Fourteenth progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details (2018) 211 final, 17.4.2018
Publication Date 17/04/2018
Content Type

The European Commission published on 17 April 2018 its 14th report on the progress made towards building an effective and genuine Security Union, which covered developments under two main pillars: tackling terrorism and organised crime and the means that support them; and strengthening defences and building resilience against those threats.

The Communication was accompanied by a package of legislative proposals:
+ Proposal for a Regulation on European production and preservation orders for electronic evidence in criminal matters
+ Proposal for a Directive laying down harmonised rules on the appointment of legal representatives for the purpose of gathering evidence in criminal proceedings
+ Proposal for a Directive laying down rules facilitating the use of financial and other information for the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of certain criminal offences
+ Proposal for a Regulation on the marketing and use of explosives precursors
+ Proposal for a Regulation on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement.

Background:

The brutal attacks in Trèbes and Carcassonne on 23 March 2018 are a reminder that the threat from terrorism remains high in the EU. As part of continued efforts in the Security Union to counter this threat, the Commission presented, together with this Progress Report, a new security package with measures to close down the space in which terrorists and other criminals operate, making it more difficult for them to plan and execute their heinous acts.

The package includes legislative proposals to improve cross-border gathering of electronic evidence and access to financial information for investigations and prosecution, in particular for serious crimes, also strengthening cooperation between Financial Intelligence Units and law enforcement authorities. It also includes operational measures to prevent the access of terrorists and other criminals to imported firearms and explosives precursors that can be misused to make homemade explosives, as experienced in several recent attacks. Finally, a legislative proposal to improve the security of national identity cards and residence documents will make it more difficult for terrorists and other criminals to misuse or falsify such documents to enter or move within the EU.

The 4 March 2018 attack in Salisbury has given a shocking example of the genuine threat chemical substances can pose to collective security. The 22-23 March 2018 European Council condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. It underlined that, as part of the response, the EU must step up its resilience to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear-related risks. This Progress Report sets out the measures that are being taken to that end, implementing the October 2017 Action Plan to enhance preparedness against these security risks.

The Progress Report also provides an update on the implementation of other priority files in the Security Union, covering efforts to counter radicalisation online, to enhance information sharing, to support the protection of public spaces and to counter cyber threats.

Source Link https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2018:211:FIN
Related Links
European Commission: Press Release, 17.04.18: Commission presents new measures to deny terrorists and criminals the means and space to act http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3301_en.htm
European Commission: Press Release, 17.04.18: Commission facilitates access to electronic evidence http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3343_en.htm
European Commission [FAQ]: New EU rules to obtain electronic evidence http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-3345_en.htm
European Commission [FAQ]: Security Union – Denying terrorists the means to act http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-3344_en.htm
EurActiv, 17.04.18: EU proposes ‘revolutionary’ fast-track system for police data access https://www.euractiv.com/section/data-protection/news/eu-proposes-revolutionary-fast-track-system-for-police-data-access/
Reuters, 17.04.18: Tech companies to be forced to give police overseas data under EU proposal https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1HO1YT
The Guardian, 17.04.18: EU to force tech firms to hand over terror suspects' messages https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/17/eu-to-force-tech-firms-to-hand-over-terror-suspects-messages
Euronews, 17.04.18: Fingerprints may be added to all EU ID cards — but at what cost to data privacy? http://www.euronews.com/2018/04/17/fingerprints-may-be-added-to-all-eu-id-cards-at-what-cost-to-data-privacy-

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