Europol and the Policing of International Terrorism

In Europe, the modern era of counter-terrorism policies can be traced to the 1970s, when the ‘Terrorism, Radicalism, Extremism, and International Violence’ group, or TREVI group, was formed in 1975 by European police officials to exchange information on terrorism and related international crimes [8]. In 1993, the TREVI Group and other European institutions of judicial, customs, and immigration issues were brought together under Title VI of the Treaty of European Union concerning the compensatory measures following the removal of border controls between the member states of the EU [9]. In 1997, a counter-terrorism preparatory group was set up to determine Europol’s role in matters of counter-terrorism and, thereafter, the Amsterdam Treaty approved an extension of Europol’s mandate to specifically include counter-terrorism. Since January 1, 2002, the mandate of Europol has been expanded to deal with all serious forms of international crime.

Osce: Implementation of the universal anti-terrorism instruments

The oldest OSCE counter-terrorism programme aims at promoting the international legal framework against terrorism. It started in 2001 with the adoption of the Bucharest Ministerial commitment of OSCE participating States to become party to the 12 universal anti-terrorism instruments (UATI) that were in force at that time. This commitment was later reinforced by the 2005 Ministerial Statement on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the 2006 Brussels Ministerial Statement on Supporting and Promoting the International Legal Framework against Terrorism.

The ATU in co-operation with UNODC organizes national and sub-regional workshops promoting the ratification of the now 16 UATI in force and their implementation in national legislation through the proper criminalization of terrorist offences.

As part of the international framework against terrorism, the ATU also promotes the implementation by participating States of the UN Security Council resolution 1373 and other resolutions related to terrorism.

In line with the 2006 Brussels Ministerial Statement, which calls on participating States "to consider becoming parties to regional and sub-regional legal instruments related to terrorism or legal co-operation in criminal matters adopted by organizations to which we belong", the ATU works with the Council of Europe in promoting the ratification and legislative implementation of the CoE instruments by OSCE participating States that are members of the CoE.

OSCE efforts aimed at promoting the international legal framework against terrorism are not limited to political commitments and awareness-raising or technical assistance workshops. The ATU also circulates updates of the status of the UATI as well as other international and regional legal instruments related to terrorism or co-operation in criminal matters and works with national authorities of OSCE participating States to encourage them to become party to the UATI and fully implement them in national legislation.