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

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

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

Nearly all European countries have been affected by terrorism in one form or another and tackling it has never been easy.

 
The attacks in Nice, Brussels and Paris demonstrated once again the challenge of finding a rapid and effective response to those who would destroy us, while safeguarding our freedom and way of life. In the unfolding battle against terror, Parliament has an active role to play.

Fight against terrorism - 8th parliamentary term

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)

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

After a stabbing attack in Solingen, Germany, MEPs discuss how to manage unauthorised movements of third-country nationals within the EU. This follows Germany’s decision to reintroduce border controls on all land borders for six months to improve detection of illegal entries.

MEPs are raising concerns about the impact of these checks on Schengen free movement and reviewing preparations for the upcoming Pact on Migration and Asylum, set for 2026. The Pact focuses on strengthening security checks and accelerating asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to protection.

Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Paris (France) - Ceremony for the victims of November 13th attacks

EP Plenary session -  Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the islamist attacks of 13 November 2015 in Paris

EP Plenary session - Voting session

European, German, French and Croatian flags at half-mast in Brussels and in Strasbourg, as a sign of European solidarity and out of respect for the victims of the Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, Germany, the Chido Cyclone in Mayotte, France and the knife attack at an elementary school in Zagreb, Croatia

EP Plenary session - Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea

EP Plenary session - Protecting the EU budget and ensuring that EU funds do not benefit entities or individuals linked to terrorist or Islamist movement

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Islamist terrorist attack on French schools and the need to protect people and promote social cohesion

European, Swedish and Belgian flags at half-mast at the EP headquarters in Brussels, following the attack in Brussels

European and Belgian flags at half-mast at the EP headquarters in Strasbourg, following the attack in Brussels

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

EP Plenary session - Terrorist threats posed by far-right extremist networks defying the democratic constitutional order

SEDE Subcommittee - Exchange of views with Ilkka SALMI, new EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator

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

Plenary Session - The situation in Sri Lanka, in particular the arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act

EP Plenary session - Preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online

European and Italian flags at half-mast as a tribute to Italian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Luca ATTANASIO following his assassination

David SASSOLI, EP President in video meeting with the parents of Giulio REGENI, young Italian killed in Egypt.

During the plenary session (11 - 13 November 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the fighting of Terrorism and the right to freedom of expression and education. Opening statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Fighting Terrorism and the right to freedom of expression and education: Opening statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

During the plenary session (11 - 13 November 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the fighting of Terrorism and the right to freedom of expression and education. One round of political group speakers

Fighting Terrorism and the right to freedom of expression and education: One round of political group speakers

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (11 -13 November 2020), David SASSOLI, EP President, makes his opening remarks and minute of silence for the victims of terrorism. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Resumption of session and order of business: opening remark by David SASSOLI, EP President. Minute of silence for the victims of terrorism

Following the recent terrorist attacks in France and Austria, EU, French and Austrian flags are put at half-mast in solidarity with the victims, in front of the European Parliament in Brussels.

EU, French and Austrian flags at half-mast in solidarity with the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in France and Austria

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), David SASSOLI, EP President, makes opening remarks on the plenary sessions in Strasbourg. He pays tribute to Samuel PATY, French professor, murdered on the 16/10 and minute of silence. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Resumption of session and order of business: opening remarks by David SASSOLI, EP President, on the murder of Samuel PATY, French professor

During the plenary session (8-10 July) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. EU is putting in place a comprehensive Union policy. Extracts from the statements by Michael ROTH, German Presidency, Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, David CASA (EPP, MT), Eero HEINÄLUOMA (S&D, FI), Luis GARICANO (RE, ES), and Paul TANG (S&D, NL).

A comprehensive Union policy on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing: extracts from the debate

David SASSOLI, EP President, gives a speech during the inauguration of the Antonio Megalizzi Foundation, in Trente, Italy. Antonio Megalizzi was a young man from Trentino who died in December 2018 during a terrorist attack in Strasbourg.

Inauguration of the Antonio Megalizzi Foundation: extracts from the speech by David SASSOLI, EP President

During the plenary session (13-16 January 2020) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, such as the case of imprisoned journalists in Burundi and the recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria. Statements by Ellie CHOWNS (Greens/EFA, UK), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ (GUE/NGL, ES), Jan-Christoph OETJEN (RE, DE), Assita KANKO (ECR, BE), Erik MARQUARDT (Greens/EFA, DE), Miguel URBÁN CRESPO (GUE/NGL, ES) and Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debates

Live replay of the the extraordinary EP plenary sitting in Brussels, MEPs debate the “European Green Deal” to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent. Resumption of session and order of business. Arrivals ambiance shots. Opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President. Minute of silence for the victims of the terrorist attack in Strasbourg (11/12/2018)

Debate on the European Green Deal: arrivals, opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President, Minute of silence for the victims of the terrorist attack in Strasbourg (11/12/2018), Resumption of session and order of business (14:02 - 14:16)

During the extraordinary EP plenary sitting in Brussels, David SASSOLI, EP President, pays tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Strasbourg (11/12/2018).

Tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Strasbourg (11/12/2018): statement by David SASSOLI, EP President, minute of silence

During the plenary session (13-14/11/2019) in the European Parliament in Brussels, David SASSOLI, EP President, makes an opening remark on the 4th anniversary of the terrorist attack in Paris (13/11/2015). Extract

4th anniversary of the terrorist attack in Paris (13/11/2015): extracts from the statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) debate together with the subcommittees on Human Rights (DROI) and Security and Defence (SEDE) on the situation of children of foreign fighters held in Syria and Iraq, and their possible return or repatriation to the EU, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Experts from the UN Refugee Agency, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator office, Belgium’s Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis as well as Save the Children will join the discussion

Children of foreign fighters held in Syria and Iraq and possible return/repatriation to the EU: extracts from the joint debate

David SASSOLI, EP President gives a declaration on the situation in Northern Syria and the intervention by Turkish forces, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Turkish military operation in northern Syria: statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

David SASSOLI, EP President pays a tribute to the victims of terrorism in Europe at Maalbeek metro station, in Brussels. It is the first public act of the President of the EP David SASSOLI since he is elected on 3rd July 2019.

First public act of the President of the EP David SASSOLI: Tribute to the victims of terrorism in Europe – Maalbeek metro station, Brussels

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg (15-18 April 2019), MEPs debate to confirm their negotiating position on the new rules to tackle the dissemination of terrorist content online across the EU. Internet companies will get one hour to remove terrorist content online after receiving an order, but they will not have to filter all the content they upload.

Tackling the dissemination of terrorist content online: extracts from the vote on the report by Daniel DALTON (ECR, UK)

During the meeting of the EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in Brussels, Members vote on preventing online terrorist content. Statement by Daniel DALTON (ECR, UK), rapporteur.

Preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online: extracts from the vote and statement by Daniel DALTON (ECR, UK), rapporteur

Live replay of the introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, during the plenary session (25-28 March 2019), in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on attacks in Utrecht and in Christchurch, cyclone in Zimbabwé and Malawi, deportation of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian people in 1949 followed by a minute of silence.

Introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President. Minute of silence.

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press after his address to the European Council organised in Brussels. The Spring European Council is focused on strengthening the European economic base. EU leaders will also discuss climate change, the upcoming summit with China and ways to tackle disinformation and Brexit.

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