Boosting Europe's defence against terrorism
6 May 2014 09:52 AM
How can the EU
work to prevent chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials and
explosives (CBRN-E) from ending up in the hands of terrorists? Yesterday, the
European Commission is proposing to strengthen Europe's efforts to better
detect explosives and dangerous materials, intensify research across Europe,
and build awareness in Member States.
Terrorist attacks
such as those in Madrid, London, Moscow and at the Boston Marathon illustrate
the high level of innovation of attackers, and the relative ease with which
some CBRN-E materials and components can be obtained.
That is why the
European Commission proposes to facilitate practical cooperation for the
detection and mitigation of CBRN-E risks at EU level, including working
with the industry, operators of facilities handling CBRN-E materials
(equipment manufacturers and security services providers) and other
stakeholders. Concrete tools will be developed,
ranging from guidance materials, training and awareness
building, and testing activities.
"We are
faced with a clear reality: Terrorists and criminal organisations
want get their hands on CBRN-E weaponry. We need to intensify our
work across borders to prevent that from happening. By strengthening our common
efforts, we will be able to better recognise and
assess risks, and develop effective security standards", said Cecilia
Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.
The Commission
proposes concrete actions aiming at:
- A
more effective detection, including to better address insider threats
(for instance through improved vetting procedures of personnel involved in the
whole supply chain of explosives and CBRN-E materials), and to test CBRN-E
detection equipment through practical trials.
Most recently, the
Commission has worked with the Belgian Police units and the EU Council security
staff on training and developing the methodology for the use of advanced mobile
CBRN-E detection equipment.
Mobile detection
units were deployed and tested during the recent EU-Africa Summit and U.S.
Presidential visit to Brussels. The EU Council headquarters have been scanned
prior and during the different Summits for both liquid and solid explosive,
chemical, radiological and nuclear threats to ensure security. Also, at several
Brussels train and metro stations, non-intrusive detection methods were used to
detect explosives, chemical, radiological and nuclear threats. The detection
equipment, in the form of light-weight portable electrical devices, yields
results in real-time within seconds.
These trials
provided valuable information on how to carry out threat-detection missions in
different environments, such as critical infrastructure and transportation
hubs. The Commission intends to launch more practical trials of detection
equipment in other areas of public security in 2014-2015 to continue mapping
best practices for protection.
- Using better research, testing and
validation:
Under the
7th Framework Programme (FP7) around 60 CBRN-related projects have been
funded (around €200 million) and more than 15 projects with a focus on
explosives (over €67 million). The new EU research programme Horizon 2020
will continue this work. From a policy perspective, it is important to ensure
that the results of research activities are better disseminated and translated
into useful commercial products, that respond to law enforcement and other
end-users' needs, as well as policy needs.
- Promoting awareness building, training
and exercises:
More work will be
done to enhance training initiatives, and improve awareness and capacity
building through sharing best practices and developing guidance material. In
mid-2014, the Commission will publish a handbook for airport protection of
civilians, carried out within the EU Airpol police network. Such guidance
material would then be disseminated and used by practitioners across Member
States.
- Support efforts outside the
EU:
CBRN-E threats are
not limited by physical borders. The Commission will support preparedness and
detection measures in third countries where appropriate, in particular through
technical assistance, training, and sharing of information and best
practices.
Background
Securing CBRN and
explosive materials has been part of the Commission's work since
2006.
Following the 2012
progress reports of the EU CBRN Action Plan and the Action Plan on Enhancing
the Security of Explosives, key priorities have been set, together with EU
Member States, in order to establish a CBRN-E Agenda to prevent, prepare and
respond to incidents involving such materials.
Today's
Communication is a first step in implementing this CBRN-E Agenda, through a
more proactive EU approach to detection, based on concrete activities, to
ensure that the CBRN-E supply chain is robust enough.
Useful
Links
Communication on a new approach to the detection and mitigation
of CBRN-E risks at EU level
Cecilia
Malmström's website
Follow
Commissioner Malmström on Twitter
DG Home
Affairs website
Follow DG Home
Affairs on Twitter
Contacts :
Michele
Cercone (+32 2 298 09 63)
Tove
Ernst (+32 2 298 67 64)
For the
public: Europe
Direct by
phone 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or
by email