This document summarizes key EU policies and legal instruments on counter terrorism. It outlines the EU Counter Terrorism Strategy and its objectives to adapt laws to evolving terrorist threats. It describes the EU strategy for combating radicalization and recruitment and guidelines for member states. It also discusses the fight against terrorist financing through directives aimed at improving transparency. Additionally, it covers EU integrated crisis response arrangements, civil protection legislation, engagement with international partners like the UN, and roles of EU authorities and agencies in counterterrorism efforts.

1. EU policies and legal
instruments on counter
terrorism
Dr Fotis Fitsilis
EPLO Academy Session 2018

2. Structure of presentation
• EU Counter terrorism strategy
• EU strategy for combating radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism
• Guidelines for the implementation of the revised strategy for combating
radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism by member states
• Fight against terrorist
fi
nancing
• EU integrated political crisis response arrangements (IPCR)
• EU civil protection legislation
• EU engagement with international partners (UN and OSCE)
• Role of the EU authorities and agencies on counter terrorism
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3. EU Counter terrorism strategy
Main EU strategy document: Directive (EU) 2017/541 on combating terrorism [1]
Aim: Adapt EU law to
fi
ght terrorism to evolving international terrorist threats
O
ff
ences: exhaustive list
- when committed
- threat to commit them
Sanctions:
- on aiding and abetting, inciting and attempting, and.
- on jurisdiction and prosecution
Victims: Protection, support and assistance
Respect fundamental and legal rights (Art. 6 TEU) [2]
[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32017L0541
[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?
uri=CELEX:12016M006&from=EN
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4. EU strategy for combating radicalisation and
recruitment to terrorism [3]
• Underlines EU States' authority as security-providers
• Joint standards and measures to prevent terrorist radicalisation &
recruitment
• Disrupts the activities of individuals/networks that draw people into
terrorism
• Ensures that voices of mainstream opinion prevail over those of
extremism
• Promotes security, justice, democracy and opportunities for all
[3] http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?
l=EN&f=ST%209956%202014%20INIT
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5. Guidelines for EU MS
• Guidelines to be reviewed every 2 years [4]
• Responsibility primarily lies with MS
• Measures to detect and remove internet content
• Communication strategies to promote fundamental values
• Education, jobs, social integration, rehabilitation
• Network of National Prevent Policy Makers (2017)
- Exchange of expertise
- Involve closely MS in Radicalization network (RAN)
[4] http://statewatch.org/news/2014/dec/eu-council-2014-11-27-13469-rev1-
draft-strategy-radicalisation-recruitment.pdf
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6. Fight against terrorist
fi
nancing
Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD V)
Amended in May 2018 Directive 2015/849 [5] aiming to:
- improve transparency in the ownership of companies and trusts
- strengthen checks on risky third countries
- address risks linked to prepaid cards and virtual currencies
- enhance cooperation between the national Financial Intelligence Units
Main changes
1) Enhanced access to bene
fi
cial ownership registers
2) Addressing risks linked to prepaid cards and virtual currencies
3) Improving cooperation between national Financial Intelligence Units
4) Improved checks on risky third countries
[5] http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/PE-72-2017-INIT/en/pdf
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7. EU integrated political crisis response
arrangements (IPCR) - 2013 -
• Strengthen EU’s ability to take rapid decisions at an EU political level
• Cross-sectorial crises (disasters and terrorism)
• Di
ff
erent activation levels
• Solidarity clause (Art. 222 TFEU)
Tools:
- Informal roundtable
- Integrated Situational Awareness and Analysis Report
- IPCR web platform
- 24/7 contact point
[6] https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/57c85446-
aa54-11e6-aab7-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
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8. EU civil protection legislation
De
fi
nition: governmental aid delivered in the immediate aftermath of a disaster
Form: in-kind assistance, deployment of special teams or assessment, coordination by
fi
eld experts, monitoring tools
EU Civil Protection Mechanism was established in 2001 as cooperation among national
civil protection authorities. Includes Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, FYROM and
Turkey.
Legal framework:
- Decision 1313/2013/EU on Civil Protection Mechanism [7]
- List of risks updated (2017) to include terrorism [8]
- Regulation (EU) 2016/369 on the provision of emergency support within the Union [9]
[7] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?
qid=1401179579415&uri=CELEX:32013D1313
[8] http://ec.europa.eu/echo/sites/echo-site/
fi
les/swd_2017_176_overview_of_risks_2.pdf
[9] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?
uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2016.070.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2016:070:TOC
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9. EU engagement with international partners
EU counter-terrorism strategy needs to operate on a global scale
Interaction between EU and third countries includes:
- high-level political dialogues
- adoption of cooperation clauses and agreements, or speci
fi
c assistance
- capacity-building projects with strategic countries
• Cooperation with international and regional organisations: international consensus and
standards for
fi
ghting terrorism
• Examples: UN, Global Counter Terrorism Forum, Council of Europe, OSCE, League of
Arab States and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation
• Following UN Security Council resolutions, the EU has adopted restrictive measures
against persons or entities associated with the Al-Qaeda network [10]
[10] https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/
91830bad-9e0f-11e4-872e-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
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10. Role of EU authorities and agencies
• European Commission [11]
• European Parliament (LIBE Committee) [12]
• European Council [13]
• EUROPOL and EUROJUST [14] and
• Counter Terrorism Coordinator [15]
[11] https://ec.europa.eu/home-a
ff
airs/what-we-do/policies/crisis-and-terrorism_en
[12] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2017/583124/
IPOL_STU(2017)583124_EN.pdf
[13] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/
fi
ght-against-terrorism/
[14] http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/press/Documents/2018-06-20_DECLARATION%20FR-
DE-ES-BE_ENGLISH.pdf
[15] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/
fi
ght-against-terrorism/counter-terrorism-
coordinator/
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