Counter-Terrorism: EU Publications

The European Union (EU) Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) 2023 is a situational overview, presenting figures, major developments and trends in the terrorism landscape in the EU in 2022. The report is based on qualitative and quantitative data provided by Member States on terrorist attacks, arrests and court decisions issued for terrorist offences.

This document presents key findings based on Eurojust’s casework in the area of counter-terrorism (CT). It builds on experience gained by Eurojust in assisting CT investigations and prosecutions and in facilitating the exchange of information on judicial CT proceedings.

The participation of European foreign fighters in the recent armed conflict in Syria and Iraq poses a particularly intricate security conundrum in the field of counter-terrorism. This thesis assesses to what extent legal responses to foreign fighters at the international, European, and domestic level have been consistent with the rule of law and human rights.

This study was carried out between December 2020 and July 2021 and covered the EU-25 Member States bound by the Directive. It assessed the performance of the Directive in terms of its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and EU added value, as well as its impact on fundamental rights and freedoms (including non-discrimination), the rule of law and the level of protection and assistance provided to victims of terrorism. It also provided conclusions and recommendations for potential EU-level action to address the shortcomings identified.

The issue of investigating and prosecuting its members and foreign terrorist fighters returning to their countries of origin led most EU Member States to focus on preventing and punishing terrorism-related offences. However, ISIS should not only be considered as a terrorist organisation. ISIS has fulfilled criteria according to International Humanitarian Law as a party to a non-international armed conflict in Iraq and Syria acting as an organised non-state armed group. Therefore, its members and foreign terrorist fighters could be responsible for committing war crimes and other core international crimes.

Terrorism, and our response to it, is among the most compelling European security issues. A timely contribution to the analytical and governance challenges that are faced, and also to the framing of the wider debate on the security situation in Europe.

This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee, identifies (counter-) terrorism trends, threats and policies in the EU, focussing particularly on seven themes, including database access and interoperability, measures on border security, criminal justice and prevention of radicalisation

The Agenda sets the way forward for actions to counter terrorism at EU level, looking at better anticipating, preventing, protecting and responding to the terrorist threat.

Details what Europol, the EU Agency for law enforcement cooperation, will be able to under its strengthened mandate.

EU rules on terrorist offences and related penalties

The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) is the Union’s Agency analysing foreign, security and defence policy issues.

The EEAS focuses first and foremost on the external dimension of counter-terrorism in close coordination with the Member States in the Council Working Party on Terrorism (International Aspects) (COTER), as well as with all relevant EU institutions involved and international partners. The EEAS' role is to lead counter-terrorism external outreach and guide capacity building assistance to third countries by the EU and its Member States, in close cooperation with the other EU Institutions, to ensure coherence and efficiency.