European Agenda on Security: Commission takes action to combat terrorism and illegal trafficking of firearms and explosives

On 2 December 2015, the European Commission adopted a package of measures to step up the fight against terrorism and the illegal trafficking of firearms and explosives.

The package included two main elements:

+ a proposal for a Directive on Terrorism, which will strengthen the EU's arsenal in preventing terrorist attacks by criminalising preparatory acts such as training and travel abroad for terrorist purposes as well as aiding or abetting, inciting and attempting terrorist acts

+ an Action Plan to step up the fight against criminals and terrorists accessing and using weapons and explosives through a reinforced control of illicit possession and import to the EU. This complements the measures which had been adopted on 18 November 2015.

The terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015 showed once more that Europe needs to scale up its common response to terrorism and take concrete actions in the fight against terrorism and the illegal trafficking of firearms and explosives.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/15/6219, 02.12.15: Implementing the European Agenda on Security – New measures to combat terrorism and illicit trafficking of firearms and use of explosives http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-6219_en.htm

Politico, 02.12.15: Commission: criminalize foreign fighters to beat ISIL http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-criminalize-foreign-isil-fighters/

EUObserver, 02.12.15: EU tables anti-foreign fighters laws https://euobserver.com/justice/131349

EurActiv, 03.12.15: EU's new 'Directive on Terrorism' aims to criminalise preparatory acts http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/eus-new-directive-terrorism-aims-criminalise-preparatory-acts-320069

Blog: EP: EPRS, 03.12.15: Fight against terrorism http://epthinktank.eu/2015/12/03/fight-against-terrorism/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: IP/15/6243, 03.12.15: EU Internet Forum: Bringing together governments, Europol and technology companies to counter terrorist content and hate speech online http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-6243_en.htm

ESO: Background information: European Agenda on Security - State of Play http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-agenda-on-security-state-of-play/

EUObserver [Opinion] 03.12.15: How EU gun registration might backfire https://euobserver.com/opinion/131339

EUObserver [Opinion] 03.12.15: Paris attacks merit EU security review https://euobserver.com/opinion/131361

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 03.12.15: Parliament's response to terrorist threat: Europol, passenger records, need for common action http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151203STO06001/

EurActiv, 16.12.15: Finland sets sights on exemption from EU gun ban http://www.euractiv.com/sections/trade-society/finland-sets-sights-exemption-eu-gun-ban-320510

ESO: Background information: European Commission strengthens control of firearms across the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commission-strengthens-control-of-firearms-across-the-eu/

EurActiv, 14.01.16: MEPs call for European arms embargo http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/meps-call-european-arms-embargo-320966

EurActiv, 17.02.16: Czech Republic against strengthening gun control in EU http://www.euractiv.com/section/central-europe/news/czech-republic-against-strengthening-gun-control-in-eu/

---