Source: European Parliament
While national security is a competence of the Member States[1], the Commission has supported the Member States to counter terrorism as regards the protection of public spaces[2] and countering threats posed by non-cooperative drones[3].
Considering the high and fast evolving security threat in the EU, the Commission has adopted a new Internal Security Strategy[4] and is preparing a new Agenda on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism[5].
The Commission will also propose to strengthen the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), whose mandate was already reinforced in 2022[6].
The Pact on Migration and Asylum[7] entered into force in June 2024 and will enter into application in June 2026. This will ensure that the EU has strong and secure external borders, that people’s rights are guaranteed, and that no EU country is left alone under pressure.
The status of churches and religious associations is defined by the national laws of Member States[8] thus matters concerning the foreign funding of religious associations fall within their competence.
The Commission is supporting Member States to develop and implement policies and strategies to prevent and counter violent extremism at national level through the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation[9] with particular attention paid to youth.
Furthermore, the EU Internet Forum[10] brings together technology companies, Member States, and other relevant actors to develop concrete actions to address violent extremist and terrorist content online.
The regulation on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online[11] requires Member States to issue removal orders of terrorist content to online service providers offering services in the EU.
- [1] Article 4(2) of the Treaty of the European Union.
- [2] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/internal-security/counter-terrorism-and-radicalisation/protection_en
- [3] Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on countering potential threats posed by drones, COM(2023) 659 final.
- [4] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_920
- [5] Announced in the Political Guidelines for the next European Commission (2024-2029), https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf
- [6] Regulation (EU) 2022/991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794, as regards Europol’s cooperation with private parties, the processing of personal data by Europol in support of criminal investigations, and Europol’s role in research and innovation.
- [7] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a New Pact on Migration and Asylum, COM(2020) 609 final.
- [8] Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
- [9] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/eu-knowledge-hub-prevention-radicalisation_en
- [10] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/european-union-Internet-forum_en
- [11] Regulation (EU) 2021/784 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online.