Internal security

Most Europeans are able to go about their daily lives in relative safety. At the same time, our societies are facing serious security challenges that are growing in scale and sophistication. Many of these challenges are cross-border and cross-sectoral in nature and no single EU State is able to respond to them on its own. This is something that worries both citizens and businesses. Four out of five Europeans want more action at EU level against organised crime and terrorism. The EU now has a strategy and an ambitious shared agenda for tackling these challenges and for building an open and secure Europe.

The ISS

The EU Internal Security Strategy ("Towards a European Security Model") sets out challenges, principles and guidelines for dealing with security issues within the EU. To implement this strategy, the Commission adopted the Communication "EU Internal Security Strategy in Action" in November 2010. It proposes 41 actions targeting the most urgent security challenges that Europe is facing.

The Harmony Policy Cycle against organised crime

From an operational point of view, EU States are implementing three of the ISS objectives with a new mechanism, the so-called "Harmony Policy Cycle on organised crime 2011-13". The Council endorsed eight priorities for the fight against organised crime in June 2011. These priorities focus on tackling serious, organised crime and cybercrime, as well as on strengthening border management. Expert groups have defined strategic objectives for each priority, which are now being translated into operational actions plans. This methodology is an important step in translating the political priorities and strategy of the ISS into operations that deliver collective, concrete results for internal security.

The COSI

The new Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security, the so-called "COSI", plays a key role in ensuring the effective implementation of the strategy and in driving forward progress in EU States. The Commission strongly supports its activities that strengthen operational cooperation and coordinate actions between EU States' competent authorities.