Torn by climate change, food insecurity, uncontrolled population growth, political instability and terrorism, the Sahel poses an evolving threat on Europe’s doorstep, as the August coup in Mali has once again shown. With more or less success, the EU’s strategy for the region has tried to address the multiple factors of instability but the new action plan for the region will need to take the EU’s and Africa’s new geopolitical interests on board if it is to be more successful than its predecessor

EPRS policy podcast - Understanding the EU Strategy for the Sahel

Faced with a growing international terrorist threat, the European Union (EU) is playing an ever more ambitious role in counter-terrorism.&nbsp;Even though primary responsibility for combating crime and ensuring security lies with the Member States, the EU provides cooperation, coordination and (to some extent) harmonisation tools, as well as financial support, to address this borderless phenomenon.

EU spending in the area of counter-terrorism has increased over the years and is set to grow in the future, to allow for better cooperation between national law enforcement authorities and enhanced support by the EU bodies in charge of security, such as Europol and eu-LISA.

The action plan to reinforce the fight against the financing of terrorism focuses on two main strands of action: tracing terrorists through financial movements and preventing them from moving funds or other assets and disrupting the sources of revenue used by terrorist organisations, by targeting their capacity to raise funds.

In April the European Parliament adopted a new regulation that will target content such as texts, images, sound recordings or videos, including live transmissions, that incite, solicit or contribute to terrorist offences, provide instructions for such offences or solicit people to participate in a terrorist group. It will also cover material that provides guidance on how to make and use explosives, firearms and other weapons for terrorist purposes.

Hosting service providers will have to remove or disable access to flagged terrorist content in all member states within one hour of receiving a removal order from the competent authority. Member states will adopt rules on penalties, the degree of which will take into account the nature of the breach and the size of company responsible.

Fight against terrorism

In a November plenary vote Parliament demanded&nbsp;a robust and multifaceted approach to combat all forms of racism and discrimination, including structural and institutional racism, in the EU.

In a resolution&nbsp;Parliament strongly condemned&nbsp;that minorities and migrants, including LGBTQI persons, face structural racism, discrimination, hate, sustained inequalities, difficulties in accessing the justice system, and violence by the police.

As reported by the 2019 Eurobarometer, over half of Europeans believe that racial discrimination is widespread in their country, with “Being Roma” (61% of respondents), “Ethnic origin” (59%) and “Skin colour” (59%) being the top three grounds for discrimination.

On 18 September 2020, the European Commission published its communication “A Union of equality: EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025”. Concretely, the Action Plan calls for better enforcement of EU law; closer coordination, including through the appointment of a Coordinator for Anti-racism; the adoption of national action plans against racism and racial discrimination; more efforts in preventing discriminatory attitudes by law enforcement authorities; and increased diversity of staff in the EU institutions. Equality is one of the fundamental values on which the EU is founded.

It is duly reflected in the Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. International agreements, such as the European Convention on Human Rights also prohibit discrimination on various grounds, with limited exceptions in justified cases. With regard to the fight against racism and xenophobia, the main EU instrument is the Framework Decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law. This framework decision harmonises criminal definitions and sanctions.&nbsp;

Fight against racism and xenophobia

Nearly all European countries have been affected by terrorism in one form or another and tackling it has never been easy.

 
The attacks in Nice, Brussels and Paris demonstrated once again the challenge of finding a rapid and effective response to those who would destroy us, while safeguarding our freedom and way of life. In the unfolding battle against terror, Parliament has an active role to play.

Fight against terrorism - 8th parliamentary term

Faced with a growing international terrorist threat, the European Union (EU) is playing an ever more ambitious role in counter-terrorism.

Even though primary responsibility for combating crime and ensuring security lies with the Member States, the EU provides cooperation, coordination and (to some extent) harmonisation tools, as well as financial support, to address this borderless phenomenon. EU spending in the area of counter-terrorism has increased over the years and is set to grow in the future, to allow for better cooperation between national law enforcement authorities and enhanced support by the EU bodies in charge of security, such as Europol and eu-LISA.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/fight-against-terrorism-8th-parliamentary-term_2802_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Fight against terrorism (2019-2020)

The Special Committee on Terrorism (TERR) was set up in July 2017 and started its work in September 2017 to evaluate how to better fight terrorism. The two co-rapporteurs Ms Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE) and Ms Helga STEVENS (ECR, BE) together with the other TERR Members presented a final report to address the practical and legislative deficiencies in the fight against terrorism. Their recommendations show a way to overcome these deficiencies and to improve the fight against terrorism in the European Union. Meanwhile, the DALTON report asks Internet companies to remove terrorist content within one hour after receiving an order from the authorities to combat radicalisation and contribute to public security.

#EUelections2019 - Fight against terrorism

After a stabbing attack in Solingen, Germany, MEPs discuss how to manage unauthorised movements of third-country nationals within the EU. This follows Germany’s decision to reintroduce border controls on all land borders for six months to improve detection of illegal entries.

MEPs are raising concerns about the impact of these checks on Schengen free movement and reviewing preparations for the upcoming Pact on Migration and Asylum, set for 2026. The Pact focuses on strengthening security checks and accelerating asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to protection.

Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return

European, German, French and Croatian flags at half-mast in Brussels and in Strasbourg, as a sign of European solidarity and out of respect for the victims of the Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, Germany, the Chido Cyclone in Mayotte, France and the knife attack at an elementary school in Zagreb, Croatia

EP Plenary session - Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea

EP Plenary session - Protecting the EU budget and ensuring that EU funds do not benefit entities or individuals linked to terrorist or Islamist movement

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Islamist terrorist attack on French schools and the need to protect people and promote social cohesion

European, Swedish and Belgian flags at half-mast at the EP headquarters in Brussels, following the attack in Brussels

European and Belgian flags at half-mast at the EP headquarters in Strasbourg, following the attack in Brussels

Moment of remembrance to pay tribute to the victims of acts of terrorism with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

EP Plenary session - Terrorist threats posed by far-right extremist networks defying the democratic constitutional order

SEDE Subcommittee - Exchange of views with Ilkka SALMI, new EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator

Ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi, University of Trento: - Press Point by David SASSOLI, EP President.

Plenary Session - The situation in Sri Lanka, in particular the arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act

EP Plenary session - Preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online

European and Italian flags at half-mast as a tribute to Italian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Luca ATTANASIO following his assassination

David SASSOLI, EP President in video meeting with the parents of Giulio REGENI, young Italian killed in Egypt.

EP Plenary session - EU Security Union Strategy - MEPs debate

LIBE - EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home AffairsSecurity Dialogue on the recent terrorist attacks and the ways to combat terrorism - Presentation and exchange of views with Ylva JOHANSSON,  European Commissioner for Home Affairs

EP Plenary session - Fighting Terrorism and the right to freedom of expression and education

Statement by Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), EP Vice-President following the terrorist attacks in Brussels - EP European flags at half mast in front of the EP buildings in Brussels.

Statement by Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), EP Vice-President following the terrorist attacks in Brussels - EP European flags at half mast

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President to Tunisia : Tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack (24/11/2015) and Audience with Mohamed Beji Caid ESSEBSI, President of Tunisia
Statement by EP President Martin SCHULZ

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President to Tunisia : Tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack (24/11/2015) and Audience with Mohamed Beji Caid ESSEBSI, President of Tunisia

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President to Tunisia. &nbsp;Meeting with students of the University of Sousse: Tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack (26/06/2015) and&nbsp;statements

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President to Tunisia: Meeting with students of the University of Sousse, tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack (26/06/2015) and statements

On Tuesday, 02/02/2016, the EC College meeting took place in Strasbourg. The College adopted an Action Plan to strengthen the fight against terrorism financing. The recent terrorist attacks in the European Union and beyond demonstrate the need for a strong coordinated European response to combatting terrorism. Furthermore the College adopted today a Schengen Relation Report on Greece and a proposal for a council recommendation of addressing the deficiencies on Greece's borders. The state of play on Portugal's draft budgetary plan was also discussed.

Extracts from the Read-out of the College meeting by Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro and Social Dialogue

Debate on the&nbsp;Increased terrorism threat during the EP Plenary session (18-21/01) in Strasbourg. Statements by Bert KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Elissavet VOZEMBERG-VRIONIDI (EPP, EL), Birgit SIPPEL (S&amp;D, DE), Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR, BG) and Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE)

Increased terrorism threat: extracts from the debate

Debate on the Situation in the South East of Turkey during the EP Plenary session (18-21/01) in Strasbourg. Statements by Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Renate SOMMER (EPP, DE), Kati PIRI (S&D, NL), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL, CY) and Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE)

Situation in the South East of Turkey: extracts from the debate

Debate on the Systematic mass murder of religious minorities by ISIS during the EP Plenary session (18-21/01) in Strasbourg. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Lars ADAKTUSSON (EPP, SE), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&D, AU) and Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK)

Systematic mass murder of religious minorities by ISIS: extracts from the debate

Opening remarks of the EP Plenary session (18-21/01) in Strasbourg by Martin SCHULZ, EP President, about terrorist attacks in Istanbul and Ouagadougou.

Opening remarks by Martin SCHULZ, EP President on terrorist attacks in Istanbul and Ouagadougou

This Infoclip illustrates: French police and army observe and secure the areas of the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015.

Infoclip: Security measures and police presence after the attacks in Paris in November 2015

Meeting of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer protecion in the EP in Brussels, on the Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Firearms Directive). Extracts from the presentation by Pierre DELSAUX, Deputy Director General DG GROW and statements by Evelyne GEBHARDT (S&D, DE), Daniel DALTON (ECR, UK), Dita CHARANZOVA (ALDE, CZ) and Andreas SCHWAB (EPP, DE).

Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Firearms Directive): extracts from the presentation by the Commission

Meeting of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on EU common list of safe countries in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Sylvie GUILLAUME, Rapporteur, Rachida DATI (EPP, FR), Gérard DEPREZ (ALDE, BE), Martina ANDERSON (GUE/NGL, UK) and Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE)

EU common list of safe countries: extracts from the report by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D,FR)

Exchange of views with Gilles de KERCHOVE, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, at the LIBE EP Committee in Brussels. Statements by Gilles DE KERCHOVE, EU anti-terrorism Coordinator, Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE), Birgit SIPPEL (S&amp;D, DE), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL) and Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL)

Exchange of views with Gilles de KERCHOVE, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator:  aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris (with Council and Commission) - implementation of the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Martin SCHULZ, EP President, expresses himself and calls for&nbsp;a minute of silence in the European Parliament in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris, in the hemicycle of the EP in Brussels.

Minute of silence in the European Parliament in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris

Meeting of the Committee on Civil Liberties&nbsp;(LIBE) on the Prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations, in the EP in Brussels. Statement by Rachida DATI (EPP, FR), Rapporteur

Prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations: statement by Rachida DATI (EPP, FR), Rapporteur

Opening remarks by Martin SCHULZ, EP President on the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey in the EP in Brussels.

Opening remarks by Martin SCHULZ, EP President on Ankara terrorist attack

Debate during the plenary session of July in Strasbourg on EU support to Tunisia. Statements by Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement negotiations, Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&D, IT), Marielle DE SARNEZ (ALDE, FR) and Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE, FR).

EU support to Tunisia: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of July in Strasbourg on the recent terrorist attacks in Lyon, Susa (Tunisia) and Kuwait. Statements by Nicolas SCHMIT, Interim Presidency , Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration and Home Affairs, Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE), Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Fernando MAURA BARANDIARÁN (ALDE, ES), Cornelia ERNST (GUE/NGL, DE) and Mario BORGHEZIO (ENF, IT)

Recent terrorist attacks: extracts from the debate

Vote on Persecution of the Christians around the world, in relation to the killing of students in Kenya by terror group Al-Shabaab, during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg.

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