The European Union aims to ensure that people live in an area of freedom, security and
justice, without internal frontiers. Europeans need to feel confident that, wherever they
move within Europe, their freedom and their security are well protected, in full
compliance with the Union's values, including the rule of law and fundamental rights.
In recent years new and complex threats have emerged highlighting the need for further
synergies and closer cooperation at all levels. Many of today's security concerns originate
from instability in the EU's immediate neighbourhood and changing forms of
radicalisation, violence and terrorism. Threats are becoming more varied and more
international, as well as increasingly cross-border and cross-sectorial in nature.
These threats require an effective and coordinated response at European level. All the
EU institutions have agreed that we need a renewed Internal Security Strategy for the
coming five years.1
To meet this objective, this European Agenda on Security sets out how the Union can
bring added value to support the Member States in ensuring security. As President JeanClaude Juncker said in his Political Guidelines, "Combating cross-border crime and
terrorism is a common European responsibility".2 Member States have the front line
responsibility for security, but can no longer succeed fully on their own. While
respecting national responsibilities for upholding the law and safeguarding internal
security, all relevant EU and national actors need to work better together to tackle crossborder threats. The European Agenda on Security must therefore be a shared agenda
between the Union and Member States. The result should be an EU area of internal
security where individuals are protected in full compliance with fundamental rights.
This Agenda will drive better information exchange, increased operational cooperation
and mutual trust, drawing on the full range of EU policies and tools. It will ensure that
the internal and external dimensions of security work in tandem. Whilst the EU must
remain vigilant to other emerging threats that might also require a coordinated EU
response, the Agenda prioritises terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime as
interlinked areas with a strong cross-border dimension, where EU action can make a real
difference.
1. WORKING BETTER TOGETHER ON SECURITY
The EU has already put in place a range of legal, practical, and support tools to underpin
a European area of internal security. The strategic objectives set out in the Internal
Security Strategy 2010-2014 remain valid and should continue to be pursued.3 The
Treaty of Lisbon has put the EU on the right footing to achieve this, reinforcing the legal
framework to pool efforts and ensure liberty and security, internal free movement and an
effective European response to cross-border threats. The Treaty strengthened the
protection of fundamental rights and democratic control over Union policies on internal
security, and made the European Parliament an equal co-legislator on police and judicial
cooperation in criminal matters. Since 1 December 2014, police and judicial cooperation
in criminal matters fall within the normal EU legal order. Judicial control by the
European Court of Justice and the Commission's role as Guardian of the Treaties now
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European Council Conclusions EUCO 79/14 of 27.6.2014; European Parliament Resolution 2014/2918 of
17.12.2014; Council Conclusions of 4.12.2014 on the development of a renewed EU Internal Security Strategy.
A New Start for Europe. My Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change. Political Guidelines for
the next European Commission, 15.7.2014.
Council Conclusions of 25.2.2010 on the Internal Security Strategy for the European Union: Towards a European
security model; COM(2014) 154 final of 11.3.2014.
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