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

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

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)

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

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

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

A moment of remembrance is being held on Wednesday 22 March 2023 to pay tribute to all victims of acts of terrorism perpetrated in Belgium and to all Belgian victims of terrorist acts committed abroad. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, is invited to participate to the event, along with Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister, the CEOs of Brussels Airport and STIB, representatives of the victims' associations Life4Brussels and V-Europe and of the emergency and intervention services. Extracts.

Deaths from terrorism have declined by 78 % between 2014 and 2021, across the world. But even if the situation has improved for most countries, terrorism has recently surged in some regions. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Peace and security: terrorism

The Radio studios of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, have been named in the memory of Antonio Megalizzi and Bartek Orent-Niedzielski, journalists murdered in Strasbourg during a terrorist attack (11/12/18). Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mario DRAGHI, President of the Italian Council, pay a tribute to them by visiting the studio.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mario DRAGHI, Italian Prime Minister visit the EP Radio studio named in the memory of Antonio Megalizzi and Bartek Orent-Niedzielski, journalists murdered in Strasbourg during a terrorist attack

David SASSOLI, EP President makes a statement during the ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi at the University of Trento. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

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

David SASSOLI, President of the European, exchanges with the press in the premises of the Univeristy of Trento after his participation to the ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi who was killed during the attack in Strasbourg in December 2018.

Press point by David SASSOLI, EP President following the ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi - University of Trento

David SASSOLI, EP President and Sergio MATTARELLA, President of the Italian Republic attend the ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi, University of Trento, Italy. Antonio Megalizzi is one of the two journalists, murdered during the terrorist attack of December 2018 in Strasbourg.

Ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi with the participation of David SASSOLI, EP President - University of Trento

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Fight against racism and xenophobia

Fight against terrorism (2019-2020)

Fight against terrorism

#EUelections2019 - Fight against terrorism

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

EPRS - Peace and security: terrorism

Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Mario DRAGHI, Italian Prime Minister visit the EP Radio studio named in the memory of Antonio Megalizzi and Bartek Orent-Niedzielski, journalists murdered in Strasbourg during a terrorist attack

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

Press point by David SASSOLI, EP President following the ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi - University of Trento

Ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi with the participation of David SASSOLI, EP President - University of Trento

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

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

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

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

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

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

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EPRS policy podcast - Understanding the EU Strategy for the Sahel