Counter-terrorism and radicalisation

The European Union aims to be an area of freedom, security and justice, without internal frontiers. Europeans should feel confident that wherever they move within the EU, their freedom and their security are well protected.  

One of the main threats to those aims is terrorism. A menace that does not recognise borders and affects countries and people irrespective of their geographical location.   

While the EU is one of the safest regions in the world, terrorism and violent extremism remain a persistent challenge. Terrorism is increasingly linked to other types of crime and the lines between online and physical activities are becoming more blurred, making it harder to define and identify terrorist offences. The overall threat level remains high and is driven by a growing number of risks: diverse motivations driving terrorism and violent extremism; geopolitical developments; involvement of minors; exploitation of the online ecosystem and new technologies. 

Preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism

Preventing and countering  terrorism and violent extremism is a common European responsibility. EU countries have the front-line responsibility for national security, yet EU cooperation is essential to fight terrorism and violent extremism.  

While respecting national responsibilities for upholding the rule of law and safeguarding national security, all relevant EU and national actors need to work together to tackle terrorist threats emanating from home-grown or foreign terrorists, acting alone or in a group and regardless of the ideology that is being pursued by terrorist means. 

2026 ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism

The new ProtectEU Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism combines important ongoing activities from the 2020 Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU with new initiatives to close remaining gaps and keep up with the fast-evolving terrorist threat landscape.   

The Agenda was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations and in close cooperation with Member States as the best approach to tackle the current challenges is through united action. The Agenda outlines concrete actions under six pillars:  

1. Anticipating threats 

2. Preventing radicalisation 

3. Protecting people online 

4. Protecting people in the physical environment  

5. Responding to attacks 

6. Cooperating with international partners. 

2020 Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU

On 9 December 2020, the Commission adopted a new Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU, setting out a way forward for actions to counter terrorism at EU level, looking to better anticipate, prevent, protect and respond to terrorist threats.

The Counter-Terrorism Agenda is one of the deliverables of the way forward on internal security, a core component of the Security Union Strategy adopted by the Commission in July 2020. 

• Anticipate: identifying vulnerabilities, building capacity where most needed
• Prevent: tackling radicalisation at all levels
• Protect: increasing security, denying terrorist the means to act, reinforcing external borders
• Respond: minimising impact, allowing prosecution, increasing support to victims

Factsheet of the Counter-Terrorism Agenda

Documents

• 2026: EU Agenda on preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism
• 2020: EU Security Union Strategy
• 2020: Report on combating terrorism
• 2017: Directive on combating terrorism