Crime is becoming even more fast, more digital, and better organised. Hybrid threats increasingly threaten our democracies and societies, blurring the lines between internal and external security. Terrorist threat levels remain high, fuelled by regional crises. As the geopolitical landscape evolves and new threats emerge, the EU needs a new European approach to internal security.
The European Commission plays a key role in shaping and implementing the EU’s internal security policies, ensuring that security is integrated into EU legislation and policies. Its main responsibilities include:
- Policy development: The Commission proposes legislation and strategic initiatives to enhance security across the EU. ProtectEU: the European Internal Security Strategy, sets out priorities and actions for combatting hybrid threats and hostile acts, organised crime and terrorism, both on- and offline.
- Coordination and cooperation among EU countries, agencies (for example Europol, Frontex), and international partners to ensure a unified security approach.
- Funding and support: The Commission’s funding programme Internal Security Fund (ISF) helps EU countries improve border management, law enforcement, and cybersecurity.
- Legislative oversight ensures the proper implementation of EU security laws, such as on police cooperation, confiscating criminal assets and counter-terrorism measures.
ProtectEU - the European Internal Security Strategy
The EU’s new Security Strategy (ProtectEU) sets out a vision for a stronger Union – to jointly anticipate, prevent and respond to security threats, ensure peace and stability for its citizens, protect European democracies, and safeguard prosperity.
ProtectEU sets a comprehensive agenda to ensure a safer and more secure Union. This strategy addresses the evolving threat landscape, prioritising the protection of people, societies and local communities and businesses. With three overarching objectives – stepping up capabilities to protect people, mainstreaming security considerations in EU policy and external action, and reinforcing a whole-of-society approach to ensure EU security and safety.
Topics covered by the Security Strategy include:
- Hybrid threats and other hostile acts
- Cyber and online security, including cybercrime
- Organised crime and drug-trafficking
- Terrorism and radicalisation
- Firearms
- Trafficking in human beings
- Child sexual abuse
- Financial crimes
- Innovation and foresight
- Supporting police cooperation
Find out more:
Learn how the EU is combatting terrorism and protecting citizens against terrorist attacks.
It is important to develop a common European policy on cyberattacks, online fraud and forgery, and removing illegal online content.
To be lawful, access to data needs to be necessary and proportionate and respect fundamental rights, ensuring that privacy and personal data are adequately protected.
To combat cross-border crimes and terrorism in the EU, it is necessary for law enforcement authorities of different EU countries to cooperate between each other effectively.
The EU encourages its countries to cooperate and fight trafficking in human beings and firearms, counterfeiting, and to develop a common policy on drugs.
Discover EU’s legal framework to protect children and prevent child sexual abuse.
EU security research supports innovation and knowledge crucial for developing capabilities to address security challenges.