# ATLAS Network

The ATLAS network is an association of law enforcement special intervention units from the 27 Member States of the European Union and associated countries. It was established following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, on the initiative of the European Police Chiefs Task Force (EPCTF). Together, these top-tier units maintain a constant state of readiness, poised to respond to any security crisis in Europe at any time.

## History

ATLAS was initially informally established for information exchange and training activities co-operation between units. It was later formalised by a decision of the Council of the European Union in 2008, which also expanded ATLAS's functions to include the provision of assistance upon request to another Member State.
In 2018, an ATLAS Support Office was established within Europol's European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) in The Hague, Netherlands, thereby strengthening the role of the ATLAS Network within European law enforcement organisations.

## Terms

ATLAS uses the terms 'special intervention unit' and 'crisis situation' defined as follows:
* 'Special intervention unit' refers to any law enforcement unit of a Member State that is specialised in controlling a crisis situation;
* 'Crisis situation' refers to any situation in which the competent authorities of a Member State have reasonable grounds to believe that there is a criminal offence presenting a serious direct physical threat to persons, property, infrastructure, or institutions in that Member State, particularly in situations combating terrorism.

## Organization

ATLAS recognises that a Member State may not have the means, resources, or expertise to handle all crisis situations, particularly large crises. It provides a framework for a Member State to request assistance from another Member State.

## Members

ATLAS consists of 38 special intervention units, including units from non-EU Member States such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. The non-EU Member States can participate and use of all facilities, but they do not have voting rights.
| Country | Unit | Part of | Notes |
| Austria | EKO Cobra Einsatzkommando Cobra Task Force Cobra | Federal Ministry of the Interior | |
| Belgium | DSU Direction des unités spéciales Directorate of Special Units | Federal Police | |
| Bulgaria | SOBT Специализиран отряд за борба с тероризма Special Counter Terrorism Unit | Ministry of Interior | |
| Croatia | ATJ Lučko Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit | Croatian Police | |
| Cyprus | EAO Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis Emergency Response Unit | Cyprus Police | |
| Czech Republic | URNA Útvar rychlého nasazení Rapid Response Unit | Police of the Czech Republic | |
| Denmark | AKS Politiets Aktionsstyrke Special Intervention Unit | Danish National Police | |
| Estonia | K-Komando Counter Terrorism Unit | Police and Border Guard Board | |
| Finland | Karhu Helsingin poliisilaitos Valmiusyksikkö Police Special Intervention Unit | Helsinki Police Department | |
| France | GIGN Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale National Gendarmerie Intervention Group | National Gendarmerie | |
| France | RAID Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence | National Police | |
| Germany | GSG 9 GSG 9 der Bundespolizei GSG 9 of the Federal Police | Federal Police | Formerly known as Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG 9; Border Protection Group 9) of the Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS; Federal Border Protection) from 1972 until 2005 |
| Germany | SEK Spezialeinsatzkommando Special Task Force | State Police | SEK Baden-Württemberg representing the SEKs of the various State Police forces |
| Greece | EKAM Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit | Hellenic Police | |
| Hungary | TEK Terrorelhárítási Központ Counter Terrorism Centre | Ministry of Interior |
| Iceland | Viking Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner | Icelandic Police | Non-EU participant |
| Ireland | ERU Aonad Práinnfhreagartha Emergency Response Unit | Garda Síochána | |
| Italy | GIS Gruppo di Intervento Speciale Special Intervention Group | Carabinieri | |
| Italy | NOCS Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza Central Security Task Group | National Police | |
| Latvia | OMEGA Pretterorisma vienība Omega Counterterrorism Unit OMEGA | State Police | |
| Lithuania | ARAS Antiteroristinių Operacijų Rinktinė ARAS Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS | Lithuanian Police Force | |
| Luxembourg | USP Unité Spéciale de la Police Police Special Unit | Grand Ducal Police | |
| Malta | SIU Special Intervention Unit | Malta Police Force | |
| Netherlands | DSI Dienst Speciale Interventies Special Intervention Service | National Police Corps | |
| Norway | Delta Politiet Beredskapstroppen Emergency Unit DELTA | Norwegian Police Service | Non-EU participant |
| Poland | BOA Centralny Pododdział Kontrterrorystyczny Policji Central Counter-terrorism Police Subunit | Polish Police | |
| Portugal | GIOE Grupo de Intervenção de Operações Especiais Special Operations Intervention Group | National Republican Guard | |
| Portugal | GOE Grupo de Operações Especiais Special Operations Group | Public Security Police | |
| Romania | BSIJ Brigada Specială de Intervenție a Jandarmeriei Gendarmerie Special Intervention Brigade | Romanian Gendarmerie | |
| Romania | SIAS Serviciul de Intervenții și Acțiuni Speciale Special Actions and Intervention Service | Romanian Police | |
| Slovakia | Lynx Commando Útvar osobitného určenia Special Operations Unit - Lynx Commando | Ministry of the Interior | |
| Slovenia | Red Panther Specialna Enota Policije Special Police Unit | Slovenian National Police Force | |
| Spain | UEI Unidad Especial de Intervención Special Intervention Unit | Civil Guard | |
| Spain | GEO Grupo Especial de Operaciones Special Operations Group | National Police Corps | |
| Sweden | NI Nationella insatsstyrkan National Task Force | Swedish Police Authority | |
| Switzerland | SWISS SIU Swiss Special Intervention Units | Cantonal police | Non-EU participant |
| United Kingdom | SCO19 Specialist Firearms Command 19 | Metropolitan Police | Non-EU participant |
| United Kingdom | HMSU Headquarters Mobile Support Unit | Police Service of Northern Ireland | Non-EU participant |