Speech: Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the launch of Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC)

Text of a speech by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the launch of Europol's European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) on 25 January 2016.

Mr.Avramopoulos told about the goals and expectations from the work of the Centre.

On 25 January 2016 Europol launched the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) at the informal meeting of the justice and home affairs ministers in Amsterdam. The ECTC would address issues like foreign fighters and share information regarding terrorist financing, online propaganda and arms trafficking.

The launch of the ECTC followed a decision from the EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in November 2015. ECTC will be an enhanced central information hub by which the Member States can increase information sharing and operational coordination. 'The ECTC will improve the exchange of information between law enforcement agencies. This is the kind of cooperation Europe needs in the fight against organised crime and terrorism', said Ard van der Steur, Minister of Security and Justice of the Netherlands, holding the presidency of the Council of the EU.

• Primary Source

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

Netherlands: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: EU Presidency: News, 25.01.16: New European Counter terrorism Centre will help tackle terrorism http://english.eu2016.nl/latest/news/2016/01/25/new-european-counter-terrorism-centre-will-help-tackle-terrorism

Europol: Press Release, 25.01.16: Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre strengthens the EU’s response to terror https://www.europol.europa.eu/content/ectc

ESO: Background information: The EU and its Counter-Terrorism Policies after the Paris Attacks http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-and-its-counter-terrorism-policies-after-the-paris-attacks/

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