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New EU Security Strategy must tackle emerging threats, MEPs say
The new Internal Security Strategy for 2015-2019 should be "easily adaptable to evolving situations" with a joined-up approach across the Union to tackle foreign fighters, cyber-security, human trafficking, organised crime, money laundering and corruption, , says a resolution passed by Parliament recently.
The resolution is Parliament's input for the new EU Internal Security Strategy being drawn up by the Commission.
The new strategy must be "forward-looking and strategic, and easily adaptable to evolving situations" to ensure that new types of threat are addressed, says the resolution.
In particular, the rapidly rising number of EU nationals who join terrorist organisations in conflict areas and return later to EU territory pose new types of risk, MEPs point out.
They call for a multidimensional approach to deal with underlying factors such as radicalisation and intolerance, and disrupt financial support to terrorist organisations,. preventing the recruitment and the "actual travel of foreign fighters to conflict areas", and providing for "legal prosecution where appropriate".
Take stock and improve cooperation before proposing new instruments
Proper implementation, evaluation and better use of existing laws and instruments is needed "before proposing the creation of new ones", MEPs say. They also call for better cooperation among EU countries through joint investigation teams and more expeditious and efficient sharing of relevant data and information, "subject to the appropriate data protection and privacy safeguards".
Respect for fundamental rights
Security measures should always be "evidence-based", with "proper democratic oversight and accountability", and in accordance with the principles of necessity, proportionality and respect for fundamental rights, MEPs insist, pointing to the recent European Court of Justice ruling on the data retention directive requiring all instruments to comply with the principles of proportionality, necessity and legality and to include the appropriate safeguards of accountability and judicial redress.
Next steps
The new 2015-2019 Strategy is being drawn up by the Commission and will be formally adopted by the Council.
