The European Commission adopted today a package of measures to step up the fight against terrorism and the illegal trafficking of firearms and explosives. The package includes two main elements: a proposal for a Directive on Terrorism, which will strengthen the EU’s arsenal in preventing terrorist attacks by criminalising preparatory acts such as training and travel abroad for terrorist purposes as well as aiding or abetting, inciting and attempting terrorist acts, and an Action Plan to step up the fight against criminals and terrorists from accessing and using weapons and explosives through a reinforced control of illicit detention and import to the EU.
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: “The Commission is determined to do everything it can to help Member States address and defeat the terrorist threat. The increase in the number of EU citizens travelling abroad to become ‘foreign fighters’ means that an update of the EU framework on terrorist offences is needed to ensure a common criminal justice response. Cooperation at EU level and with third countries is also necessary to crack down on the black market for firearms and explosives. Our proposals will facilitate the efforts of national authorities to disrupt terrorist networks.”
European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “Today we deliver on our promise to be firm on terrorism. Our proposal targets not only those who commit terrorist atrocities, but also those who help with travelling, financing or supporting terrorism. This is how we reinforce our criminal response to tackle the serious threats posed by foreign terrorist fighters. We also bring to the table an EU Action Plan on firearms and explosives in order to cut the access of terrorists to the traffickers within the EU and on our periphery. Europe needs to act together, decisively and swiftly, to crack down on terrorism and improve our security.”
