Welcome to the First Issue of the Protection of Public Spaces Newsletter!

Recent terrorist attacks have targeted public spaces, which are vulnerable due to their open nature and public character. The European Commission has in October 2017 published an Action Plan to support the protection of public spaces. It aims at supporting EU Member States through dedicated funding, fostering the exchange of best practice by establishing and facilitating networks and providing guidance material. The work, which is led by DG HOME, commits the European Commission to increase cooperation at EU level to support the protection of public spaces.

The Protection of Public Spaces Newsletter is one of the fora for exchange of related expertise and best practice in this context. It will contain information on scientific and technical findings, targeted guidance material, in-depth analysis of practical issues related to the protection of public spaces, stories of best practices and lessons learnt from urban administrations, information about upcoming events and opportunities for funding of projects.

We – DG HOME and JRC - aim to reach urban administrations (planners, security operators, designers of urban protective solutions), local and regional authorities, researchers, private stakeholders and anyone interested in the field of protection of public spaces. Our objective is to share information and to offer a EU-level medium for discussing issues of relevance to the security of European citizens.

The protection of public spaces is in the mandate of each member state, but the threat of terrorism and other malicious acts will be better mitigated if we work together at EU level. Sharing the knowledge, learning from our collective experiences and raising awareness will contribute to our ultimate goal – the security of European citizens.

Terrorism and Radicalisation Unit, DG HOME

Safety and Security of Buildings Unit, JRC