EU Internal Security Strategy In Action: Five Steps Towards a More Secure Europe

The European Security Strategy was devised as a method to combat security threats to the European Union thus protecting its member states and their citizens. The EU institutions and member states collaborated to produce a comprehensive guide of the challenges, principles and guidelines to handle internal issues with the assistance of the Commission to execute the strategy. The current strategy is set to last until 2014 when it will be modified. Until then, it seeks to provide proposals on how member states can cooperate to provide efficiency in preventing crime specifically, organised crime, terrorism and cybercrime as well as increasing security on the common external borders as these are necessary for the area of free movement, and recommending efficient methods to handle natural and man-made disasters. It also puts focus on ways to combat human trafficking, drug trafficking (commonly occurring at external borders) and terrorism.

In order to maintain solidarity between member states, institutions and agencies, the Security Strategy stresses the importance of a shared agenda; common policies, legislation and cooperation between law enforcement and judicial protection, border management and civil protection. It also emphasises the necessity of common values; the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights as laid down in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The significance of external relationships such as with the United States is also emphasised to explain security cannot be achieved by the EU alone.

The Security Strategy lays down five objectives to attain a more secure EU:

•  Dismantling of international crime networks
  
•  Prevention of terrorism as well as addressing the triggering factors of radicalisation and recruitment
  
•  Increases in levels of security in cyberspace for the protection of citizens and businesses
  
•  Increases in security concerning border management
  
•  Increase the European Union’s capabilities for handling crises and disasters such as prevention of disease

Here is a video of Lieutenant General Leakey speaking on the behalf of EU about security and conflict threats. 

The Changing Nature of Security and Conflict - The EU's Future Response <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AanXY2S1SHM> 

Implementation

The Commission assumes the responsibility of ensuring the successful execution of strategies proposed to achieve the objectives. They are obligated to produce an annual report to inform the European Parliament and the Council on the developments of the strategies to assess whether they have been effective at Member State and EU level and proposing amendments if necessary.

Bibliography

Council of the European Union (2010), EU Internal Security Strategy. [Online] Available at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/113055.pdf (Accessed: 17th April 2010)

European Commission (2010), Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - The EU Internal Security Strategy in Action: Five steps towards a more secure Europe. [Online] Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/archive/internal_security_strategy_in_action_en.pdf (Accessed: 15th April 2010)

IIEA1 (2010), Lt. Gen. Leakey on The Changing Nature of Security and Conflict -- The EU's Future Response. Available at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AanXY2S1SHM (Accessed: 20th April 2011)