Overview of the European Agenda on Security

Modern threats have many faces. Among those are organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism, border security and foreign fighters, international smuggling, trafficking, propaganda, and radicalization. The European Agenda on Security was established to replace the previous internal security strategy to unite Member States in their quest for peace. Guidelines, key principles, tools and agencies will set the groundwork for cooperation.

The Framework for the European Agenda on Security has already been laid with practical, legal and support tools, like the Treaty of Lisbon or Eurojust. The next important step is to use these given tools to further enhance cooperation and deliver new complementary actions, based on five key principles:

First, full compliance with fundamental rights must be ensured. As important safety for citizen is, as important is the respect for personal data and judicial redress. The Agenda states:

“The Union’s approach is based on the common democratic values of our open societies, including the rule of law, and must respect and promote fundamental rights, as set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.”[1]

Second, more transparency and accountability are needed to build up citizens’ trust. Therefore, the European Parliament and the Council will be updated regularly on the implementation of this agenda and develop performance indicators for key instruments.

Third, the already existing EU legal instruments need better implementation. Member States will be encouraged to fully utilise these tools for further cooperation and information sharing between the authorities.

Fourth, the EU Security Agenda aims at a more cross-sectoral, joined-up approach to deepen cooperation between various areas like finance, education or information technology, since the nexus between different security threats is increasing.

Fifth, all dimensions of security (external and internal) need further linking, since threats are not confined by the borders.

“The EU response must therefore be comprehensive and based on a coherent set of actions combining the internal and external dimensions, to further reinforce links between Justice and Home Affairs and Common Security and Defense Policy. Its success is highly dependent on cooperation with international partners.”[1]

Cooperation and support on EU level

To further enhance cooperation, all existing instruments need to be fully implemented by everyone – from small EU institutions to ember States. The improvement of information exchange is a vital part of that. Various tools have been established, such as the Schengen Information System (SIS) to facilitate information exchange on travel documents or possible identity frauds. Another example would be the Prüm framework that offers automated comparison of DNA profiles, vehicle data or fingerprints.

A further aspect is an effective operational cooperation: Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), or Police and Customs Cooperation Centres (PCCCs) combine law enforcement units of different Member States in border regions for improving collaboration. Effective cross-border instruments also enhance judicial cooperation in criminal matters – such as the European Judicial Network (EJN), which provides mutual recognition of judicial decisions in the security framework.

Training, research and funding through EU support would further assist the improvements made: The European police college CEPOL organises courses and prepares police officers for effective cooperation and for developing a common law enforcement culture. With research and innovation, the EU can keep up to date on security threats and tools to counter them.

“Innovative solutions will help to mitigate security risks more effectively by drawing on knowledge, research and technology. Horizon 2020 can play a central role in ensuring that the EU’s research effort is well targeted, including factoring in the needs of law enforcement authorities by further involving end-users at all stages of the process, from conception to market.”[1]

Focus areas

This framework should be deployed to address three main priorities for future European security:

• Terrorism and terrorist attacks: With the recent attacks in Western Europe, the need for a stronger engagement against terrorism and foreign fighters has become a primary objective. By bringing together anti-terrorism law enforcement capabilities and using already existing structures, a new counter terrorism centre with Europol could be established. The focus would lie on protecting critical infrastructure as well as on tracking financial operations to counter terrorism financing and to foster inter-culture dialogue to prevent radicalisation.
• Organised and cross-border crime: The Policy Cycle of the European Union is coordinating neighbourhood countries joint operations and strategic missions. Main policies are concerned with international crimes such as money laundering or smuggling. Illegal imported firearms have received focused attention owing to recent attacks, but also the market of illicit drugs is fed from outside. Criminal networks exploit the need for protection, consequently migrant smuggling as well as trafficking has risen to a new high. Local authorities need to be involved in controlling mechanisms and consequently fight corruption.
• Cybercrime: With the rise of cybercrime, the EU needs to strengthen its cybersecurity. A cooperation of the private sector with the European Cybercrime Centre should encircle all vital aspects to tackle this issue. Exchanges with Eurojust (European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit) should prove best results when it comes to investigations and prosecution of Internet-facilitated crimes.

While the Security Union is still in the making, it is obvious that its success is strictly tied to the willingness of its members to cooperate.

Note: This article is based on the European Agenda on Security

References

[1] European Commission (2015). The European Agenda on Security – Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, COM(2015) 185 final.

Keywords

Security Agenda, Cooperation, Cyber Crime, Cross Border Crime, Terrorism, Foreign Fighters, Money Laundering, Radicalization