On Thursday 26 February, the European Commission unveiled its new agenda for the fight against terrorism, under the European internal security strategy, ‘ProtectEU’. It “sets our path forward preventing attacks before they happen and responding decisively when they do”, summed up Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration.
This strategic programme comes at a time when the security landscape is becoming more complex, marked by the increased use of emerging technologies by extremist networks, such as artificial intelligence, drones and 3D-printed weapons, as well as a significant increase in the number of young people involved in these activities.
Protection of minors. In 2024, almost a third of those suspected of involvement in terrorist acts in the EU were under the age of 20, the youngest being just 12. To counter this, the Commission will launch a “Prevention Toolbox” and a €5 million community engagement programme to support young people’s digital resilience.
Online crime. On the digital front, the Commission plans to strengthen the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, following its evaluation in 2026. The Europol agency will develop a European database that will help automate the removal of content promoting terrorist violence from various platforms. The project also includes the creation of an EU Financial Data Retrieval System by 2030 to track terrorist financing, including crypto-assets and online payments.
Physical security. The agenda mentions an investment of €30 million to protect public spaces, with a particular focus on places of worship. As part of this, the ‘Protective Security Advisory Programme’ will be strengthened to help Member States assess the vulnerability of their critical infrastructures. A review of the mandates of Europol and Eurojust is also being discussed to increase their judicial and operational support to Member States (see EUROPE 13816/15).
International cooperation. Finally, the external component provides for increased cooperation with partner states in the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region to harmonise legal frameworks and block illicit financial flows. This will involve implementing joint action plans and exchanging data on individuals who pose a threat.
The Commission’s press release: https://aeur.eu/f/kxo (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)