Brussels, 25/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Thursday 25 February, EU home affairs ministers unanimously adopted a European strategy on internal security, after the European security strategy to combat external threats to the EU, which dates from 2003. “This strategy is a further component in improving the security of citizens while at the same time ensuring their freedoms,” said Spanish Home Affairs Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. The aim of the new strategy is to lay the foundations of a common European policy, after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty and the Stockholm Strategy. The document, above all aimed at ordinary EU citizens whom the EU involves in the protection of the population, comprises three sections: - exhaustive analysis of the threats (terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, violence at sports events, natural or man-made disasters, and traffic accidents) and current responses; - a European security model which sets out, in 10 key points, guidelines for action in such areas as information exchange, police and legal cooperation, protection of external borders and cooperation with third countries; - the next steps to be taken, among which feature a communication expected from the European Commission on the internal security strategy, implementation of the strategy by the Standing Committee on internal cooperation on internal security (COSI) and the possible creation of a dedicated internal security fund. European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said that, in June, she would bring forward an assessment of all the security instruments available to the EU, in order, for example, to avoid duplication, and in October, she would present a communication setting out the content of this internal security strategy, which is to be approved by the European Council of 25-26 March. At the same time, ministers adopted a decision setting up the COSI (see EUROPE 10076). The first meeting of the COSI is scheduled to take place in Brussels on 11 March. (B.C./transl.rt)