New European Counter terrorism Centre will help tackle terrorism

On 25 January 2016 Europol launched the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) at the informal meeting of the justice and home affairs ministers in Amsterdam. The ECTC will address issues like foreign fighters and share information regarding terrorist financing, online propaganda and arms trafficking.

Most serious terrorist threat in 10 years

Europe is facing its most serious terrorist threat in 10 years. Combined with the growing number of foreign fighters, this is a new challenge for EU member states. ‘The ECTC will enhance operational coordination and information-sharing between law enforcement agencies’, said the Dutch Minister of Security and Justice, Ard van der Steur, at the start of the meeting. ‘This is necessary to fight organised crime, terrorist networks and foreign fighters.’

How ECTC is organised

The ECTC, which is part of the Europol organisation, will be led by the Spaniard Manuel Navarrete Paniagua. He currently has a staff of 39, plus five seconded experts. They will work with other operational centres within Europol.

Investigating financial crimes

Europol plays a central role in the European response to terrorist threats. For example, after the Paris attacks Europol assigned up to 60 officers to support the French and Belgian investigations in Taskforce Fraternité, which resulted in over 1,600 leads regarding suspect financial transactions. Financial investigations are an effective instrument in tackling organised crime and terrorism and one of the priorities of the Netherlands’ EU Presidency.

The article is taken from the website of the Netherlands EU Presidency 2016

Europa.ba