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What can Europe do in the face of terrorism? Improve the legislative system?

(BRUSSELS2) If the European Union is politically in tune with France in these painful times – many leaders made the trip to Paris last Sunday – the coordination of the fight against terrorism is not yet perfect. But patience, they say to the European Commission. " The time is for homage. Measurements will come later. You have to give yourself time to reflect ". However, some leads have already been drawn up...

1. The Schengen file 

It is the essential part of the device. The “Schengen” file allows the various control forces in Europe, at the external borders, to have the same data. The second version of the file, known as SIS II, has been enhanced to allow the incorporation of biometric data, the reporting of stolen vehicles or the connection of a person. It was set up just 2 years ago. And the first evaluation is expected in early February. The only caveat is that “many Member States do not consult this file regularly enough”, we note at the Commission, which has issued a call to order. In fact, France is the best student. 60% of requests for information come from France.

2. The possibility of random checks at internal/external borders

The reinforcement of controls on the external borders or even inside the Union is possible, we insist on the European Commission. Contrary to the opinion that is sometimes widespread, a Member State is perfectly entitled to carry out unannounced checks " in an unsystematic way ". And to consult the Schengen file “in order to ensure that the persons do not represent a real, current and sufficiently serious threat to the internal security and public order of the Member States”. A provision applicable in the event of terrorism. However, the Member States are calling for a clarification of the rules and a relaxation. Clarification should come quickly in the form of "guidelines", the Commission is told. As for the modification of what is called the Schengen Code, that will come later.

3. Tracking Air Passengers 

This is the weak point of the system. The creation of a European file bringing together all the data of passengers flying at European level was indeed proposed by the European Commission in 2011. But the European Parliament is not very warm. This device, called “PNR” in European jargon (Passengers Name Record = recording of personal data of air passengers), would be liberticidal underline certain defenders of freedoms. " The proposal needs to be better defined, with strong safeguards says Dutch MEP Sophie Int'Veld, data protection specialist. For Gilles de Kerchove, the anti-terrorist coordinator, this tool is necessary. The interior ministers of the main G10 countries reiterated this on Sunday in Paris. " We are convinced of the irreplaceable usefulness of this tool, at European level, to monitor those who go to the theater of terrorist operations to fight there, who return, and to fight against all organized terrorist networks explains Bernard Cazeneuve, the Minister of the Interior. " The exchange and use of relevant information (must) go hand in hand with the objective of better ensuring the protection of rights and freedoms recognizes European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

4. A “radicalization” network 

The European Commission has supported the establishment of a network of experts specializing in the fight against radicalisation. The members of this network work in the social and health sectors, in victims' associations, local authorities, local police forces and prison administrations. Objective: to identify and exchange good practices, particularly in prisons or on university campuses. In France, theFrench Association of casualties terrorism (AFVT) - which has just been mandated by the government to intervene in prisons - is one of them

5. Internet monitoring 

This is another European project. States wish to establish greater cooperation with Internet companies, " to ensure the reporting and removal, where possible, of illegal content, including content advocating terrorism, or calling for violence or hatred ". The Commission has launched initiatives. At the level of the Member States, we expect them to " quickly lead to concrete commitments and results ».

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
article published in Ouest-France

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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