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Informal Meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, Amsterdam 25-26 January 2016 Discussion Paper on counterterrorism Meeting of Ministers of Home Affairs, 25 January 2016 Information exchange on foreign terrorist The Presidency would like to discuss1 the fighters, firearms and precursors remaining underlying obstacles for information Over the last decade the EU and its Member exchange on foreign terrorist fighters and ways States, European and international bodies, have forward to clear these obstacles, along the lines made much effort at the political, legal and of the following questions: operational level to improve information 1. Given the specific safeguards in the handling exchange on counterterrorism. In recent years of information (such as privacy the foreign terrorist fighters issue has been a considerations, source protection) which particular focus. Member States have committed obstacles do you encounter in the exchange themselves several times to increasing the of information between national exchange of information. Recent events and counterterrorism actors in your country and terrorist attacks as well as statistics on input of how does this affect co-operation and information in the various systems on EU-level information exchange from your country with have led us to conclude that there still is room for other European partners? improvement in effective information exchange 2. Would you qualify defining common between our competent authorities and with measurable deliverables for input into European or international bodies. Two European systems as necessary in order to dimensions are essential to reach this: quantity, achieve an effective practice? but also quality of information (contextual 3. What kind of common standards do you information concerning foreign fighters and their consider useful to improve the exchange of support networks especially), in order to identify actionable information? Examples are timing, new lines of investigation and to help prevent quality and additional background terrorist attacks and counteract related activities. information. In which way could investments in collaboration and trust, or secure ICT A high level of combined expertise and a correct solutions, support further improvement on and uniform (standardized) application of current exchange practices? Which additional systems is crucial. Any challenges and obstacles actions would you like to propose? that still prevent an effective and comprehensive 4. Would you qualify a uniform (standardized) practice must now be eliminated. Whether these approach to the implementation and use of lie at political, legal, operational or technical detection and signaling systems (such as the level, concrete and tangible steps must be taken SISII, Interpol diffusions) as a vital element in to better facilitate our national competent stopping foreign terrorist fighters? In your authorities and European or international bodies. experience, how are competent authorities This includes the exchange of information best aided in acting upon the alerts entered between security services and their respective national law enforcement services, between migration and law enforcement services, or between law enforcement and customs 1 As mentioned in the cover note, you are kindly invited to authorities. share (an outline of) your Minister’s response with the Presidency in advance, which will support us in focusing the discussion in the meeting on those points which require the most attention. into or resulting from such detection and are combatting these terrorist groups and the signaling systems? In which way could the dissemination of their violent ideas and are trying implementation or use be improved? to prevent the growth of new adherents. In many EU Member States local authorities are the first Another issue that will be addressed is line of defense in countering violent extremism. information sharing between Member States on During this informal JHA Ministerial meeting we firearms and explosives precursors. The revision want to focus on the importance of local of the firearms directive aims to establish a approaches as part of national CT-strategies and stricter regime for (the sale and purchase of) discuss how we can strengthen them within firearms and a more uniform practice within the the EU. EU. Illegal arms trade, including via the internet, is the next target-area for EU Member States in Most of the local approaches in place center partnership with Europol’s Counter Terrorism around the premise that combatting terrorism Centre. National law enforcement agencies have and preventing radicalization is best addressed stepped up their intra-EU cooperation and throughout a targeted strategy in which national shared more information on their national law and local authorities are partners. Goals of a local enforcement efforts to combat the flow of illegal approach can be to strengthen the resilience of arms. This includes improved information communities in cooperation with e.g. schools sharing between organized crime and CT and social networks, to invest in risk assessments investigations. We have to look for further and early warning mechanisms and to create improvements. possible intervention tools. These interventions can vary from multidisciplinary case- Currently, information sharing on explosives management to an administrative, a criminal precursors with a (possible) international justice or an intelligence measure. In every dimension is ad hoc and limited. This is especially scenario a solid information position and problematic for online trade: it is of key information sharing is crucial. This also concerns importance that suspicious behavior is a sustainable and active relationship with the immediately reported to the country of delivery local communities. Local governments are (and not only the country where the internet addressing many dilemmas while developing company is established).The effect and value of these strategies. We would like to address the the existing reporting structures on these following questions: suspicious transactions of explosives precursors 7. Does your national CT strategy include a local can be strengthened by organizing information approach? What are the main characteristics sharing between the national contact points. of your local approach? Do you have best Other ways to alter this situation is to organize practices to share with other Member States? information sharing on licenses, as well as Do you encounter challenges in developing inspection and law enforcement practices. This is an effective local approach? especially relevant for customs authorities, so 8. Would you asses a local approach to be most that they can properly check parcels and where effective when it is multidisciplinary, and appropriate passengers. In this regard, contains ‘preventive’ and ‘repressive’ cooperation on national level among all measures? If so, which local partners should stakeholders involved, including customs be included in a local approach? authorities and border guards, is important. 9. How can Member States share information, 5. In addressing better information sharing on experience and best practices about a local firearms and explosives precursors, which approach? Do you need EU support (for capability gaps do you perceive, if any? example through the Radicalization 6. Would an EU reporting structure be helpful to Awareness Network Centre of Excellence) to prevent the use of precursors for explosives, further implement a local approach and, if so, also in view of informing foreign law what kind of support? enforcement authorities in time? Please elaborate. Comprehensive local approach Terrorist organizations target urban areas in an effort to destabilize European society. As recent attacks in Europe have shown, some of the terrorists executing these atrocities, grew up in these cities. Law enforcement agencies and intelligence services work around the clock to prevent threats to national security and track down terrorists. National and local authorities