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Counterterrorism in the European Union

How should the European Union Counter Terrorism Strategy be changed after the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks?

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Counterterrorism in the European Union

How should the European Union Counter Terrorism Strategy be changed after the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks?

Open access

Rechten:Alle rechten voorbehouden

Samenvatting

More than ten years ago, the European Union established the EU Counter Terrorism Strategy. The aim of the
strategy was to ‘’combat terrorism globally while respecting human rights, and make Europe safer, allowing its
citizens to live in an area of freedom, security and justice’’ (Council of the European Union, 2005, p.2). However,
this strategy appears to be insufficient to combat terrorism as seen in the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks in 2015
and 2016. On that account, it is of great significance to study the EU Counter Terrorism Strategy. The objective of
this research is to study both the actual and recommended changes to the EU Counter Terrorism Strategy in order to
improve the EU´s role in the fight against terrorism. Consequently, the central research question of this thesis is:
How should the EU Counter Terrorism Strategy be changed after the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks? Before
studying this question, a theoretical framework describing the EU’s counterterrorism approach was created. The EU
applies a comprehensive approach including aspects of coercive, proactive, defensive and long-term
counterterrorism approaches where main attention is aimed at soft power measures. Furthermore, the prevention of
radicalisation is the most significant part in combating terrorism.
In order to answer the central research question, both primary and secondary data consisting of an in-depth interview
and desk-research was collected and analysed. This research shows that the EU and its member states have been
criticised for failing before, during and after the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks. As a reaction to both the attacks
and the criticism, the EU has taken measures to improve its counterterrorism activities. This suggests that the EU
Counter Terrorism Strategy is not completely sufficient. Since most failures have been made in the area of
prevention of radicalisation, information sharing, intelligence sharing and border control, most changes and
recommendations have been made in these areas as well.
On the basis of this research and analysis, it is recommended that the EU should take measures regarding
counterterrorism. The recommendations are aimed at upgrading the prevention of radicalisation, increasing and
improving information sharing as well as at enhancing border controls. Consequently, the EU’s fight against
terrorism will improve. However, these measures will not change the EU Counter Terrorism Strategy. Instead, they
will specify and complete the strategy in order to make it sufficient to combat the current terrorist threat within the
EU with a unified counterterrorism strategy throughout the Union.

Toon meer
OrganisatieDe Haagse Hogeschool
OpleidingMO Europese Studies / European Studies
AfdelingFaculteit Management & Organisatie
Jaar2017
TypeBachelor
TaalEngels

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