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Combating organized crime and terrorism

Internal Security Strategy for the European Union 2015–2020

The strategic and operational framework for cooperation in the fight against serious and organised crime is primarily set out in the Internal Security Strategy for the European Union 2015–2020, adopted by the JHA Council in June 2015.

The priority areas set out in the Strategy are the following:

  • Tackling and preventing terrorism, radicalisation leading to terrorism, recruitment and financing related to terrorism, with particular attention to the issue of foreign terrorist fighters, strengthening border protection through systematic and coordinated controls using data in relevant databases and based on risk assessment, and integrating internal and external aspects of the fight against terrorism;
  • Preventing and fighting serious and organised crime, on the basis of the EU policy cycle;
  • Preventing and fighting cybercrime, as well as enhancing cyber security.

In addition, the Strategy indicates that particular attention should be paid to stepping up the exchange of information and operational cooperation between Member State competent authorities. 

The JHA Council of 12–13 October 2017 adopted Council Conclusions on the mid-term review of the renewed Internal Security Strategy for the European Union 2015–2020. Therein it is acknowledged that the following priority areas require decisive and coordinated action in the fight against terrorism and in preventing and combating serious and organised crime and cybercrime:

  • ensuring information exchange and interoperability of different databases in the field of justice and home affairs;
  • strengthening the fight against cybercrime by regularly analysing the threat and changing nature of cybercrime and adapting policy tools accordingly, with a particular focus on prevention and better operational cooperation;
  • ensuring the availability of effective investigative tools that are adapted to the digital age and respond to the changing challenges of internet governance;
  • further improving the fight against financial crime and money laundering and facilitating asset recovery by promoting effective practical cooperation between Member States and fostering partnerships between Member States and the private sector;
  • addressing issues that result from radicalisation, including use of online resources;
  • strengthening the EU’s resilience in areas such as protecting public spaces;
  • further strengthening the links between internal and external security policies in order to make progress in implementing a global strategy and achieving a genuine and effective security union, in particular by strengthening cooperation with third countries.

The assumptions of the strategy are implemented and based on detailed implementation plans. The Justice and Home Affairs Council and Operational Cooperation on Internal Security shall monitor progress in this regard.

EU Security Policy Cycle

Since 2011 the EU Security Policy Cycle has been implemented for serious and organised international crime. This mechanism is intended to identify priorities in the area of combating threats to internal security in the long term as well as specific actions to be implemented on an annual basis. The first full four-year cycle was implemented in 2014–2017. The current EU Security Policy Cycle 2018-2021 has the following priorities:

  1. fighting against cybercrime
  2. fighting against drug-related crime
  3. dismantling organised crime groups facilitating illegal immigration
  4. fighting against organised property crime
  5. combating trafficking in human beings
  6. destroying the potential of organised crime groups and professional criminals dealing with excise duties and intra-Community tax fraud involving the unjustified refund of input VAT
  7. dismantling organised crime groups involved in the illegal trade of firearms
  8. dismantling organised crime groups involved in environmental crime
  9. combating proceeds of crime and money laundering and facilitating asset recovery
  10. fighting against document forgery. 

 

The implemented actions take into account commitment of such entities as the law enforcement authorities of the EU member States, competent EU institutions and agencies, including European Police Office (Europol), European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), European Anti-Fraud Office, (OLAF), European Police College (CEPOL) and European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

Prevention of and fight against terrorism

Terrorism is one of the biggest threats to the security, stability, democracy and fundamental rights.  Preventing and fighting terrorism is a priority for EU Member States’ cooperation. Legislative and non-legislative measures taken focus primarily on strengthening the exchange of information and operational cooperation between competent authorities, preventing threats from foreign terrorist fighters, preventing radicalisation, combating terrorist financing and terrorism-inciting content on the internet, preparing threat analyses, as well as protecting public spaces or limiting the possibility of terrorists using dangerous substances.

The relevant EU agencies operating under the framework of justice and home affairs also play an important role in supporting Member States in their efforts to prevent and combat terrorism. One area of note is the support offered by the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol), which created the European Counter Terrorism Centre. 

Fight against drug-related crime

The scope of activities under the ant-drug policy has been laid down in the EU Drugs Strategy 2013–2020, covering both the drug demand and supply issues. The Council of the European Union also adopted the strategic documents concerning particular types of drugs that identify the priorities for the EU Member States and institutions as well as EU agencies in the areas of drug accessibility restriction and common response to the identified challenges.

Among the important activities undertaken in the area of drug supply reduction are measures taken under the EU Security Policy Cycle. In the new edition of the EU Security Policy Cycle 2018–2021, Poland is the leader when it comes to the priority pertaining to synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances.

Dialogues on drug-related activities are permanently carried out on the European Union forum in relations with the countries and regions outside the EU, such as USA, Russia, Latin American or Eastern Partnership countries.

Drugs present a permanent serious risk at the global scale both in the context of threat to life and health of people who use them and in terms of criminal activities linked to drug production and trade – drug-related crime has no limits and is present worldwide.

Targeted and consistent action may help reduce the scale of risk and protect the health and life of citizens.
 

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