The European Commission on
Wednesday presented a new roadmap for a European security union,
to be assessed at a summit of EU interior ministers in
Luxembourg tomorrow.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called
for a security union in the wake of the March 22 Islamist
terrorist attacks in Brussels that claimed 32 lives.
"Police in one member State must share relevant information
with their colleagues in other countries as a matter of reflex,"
EU Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris
Avramopoulos said as he presented the roadmap.
Following are its main points:
FOREIGN FIGHTERS - National authorities must be fully apprised
of their exit and entry movements and share that information.
RADICALIZATION - Preventing recruitment is a priority. Member
States must ensure radicalized subjects are prevented from
spreading propaganda, and that they follow de-radicalization
programs.
SANCTIONS - The European Council and Parliament must swiftly
agree on a new directive cracking down on terror-related
offences, such as aiding and abetting through financing and
logistics. The EU must slap sanctions on terrorists and their
supporters.
INTELLIGENCE SHARING - The European Council and Parliament must
swiftly reform Europol and adopt EC recommendations to improve
intelligence sharing, including shared access to data banks and
computer systems. Europol's European Counter Terrorism Centre
(ECTC), which was launched in January 2016, should act as the
Union's intelligence hub to analyze threats and develop and
coordinate counter-terror operations.
WEAPONS - The European Council and Parliament must revise their
directives based on European Commission recommendations, and
member States must prioritize enactment of the EU plan of action
to prevent access to firearms and explosives.
TERRORIST FINANCING - The Commission will enact its plan of
action against terrorist financing to help member States
identify and prevent the movement of funds and other financial
resources.
INFRASTRUCTURE - The EU and member States must protect
vulnerable infrastructure by improving preparation in order to
face possible security risks.
ANTI-TERROR PARTNERSHIPS - The Commission may enter into
counter-terror partnerships with non-EU Mediterranean Basin
countries.
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