REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL Fifth progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union
Date: 2017-03-02
Institutions: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission
Subjects: European security, computer crime, exchange of information, explosive, external border of the EU, fight against crime, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU, organised crime, personal data, terrorism

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   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 2.3.2017  COM(2017) 203 final   REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL  Fifth progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union  
 
 
Fifth progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union 

I.  

INTRODUCTION  

This  is  the  fifth  monthly  report  on  the  progress  made  towards  building  an  effective  and 
genuine Security Union and covers developments under two main pillars: tackling terrorism, 
organised and cyber crime and the means that support them; and strengthening  our defences 
and building resilience against those threats.  

A  prerequisite  of  building  an  effective  and  genuine  Security  Union  is  ensuring  the  timely 
adoption and full and effective implementation of EU legislation. 

The  13  December  2016  Joint  Declaration  of  the  Presidents  of  the  Parliament,  Council  and 
Commission1  agreed  58 legislative  priorities  for  2017.  Within  this  are  a number  of  pending 
proposals  which  are  key  to  the  delivery  of  the  Security  Union  including:  the  Terrorism 
Directive;  the  Firearms  Directive;  the  EU  Entry  Exit  System  (EES);  the  European  Travel 
Information  and  Authorisation  System  (ETIAS);  the  Directive  on  Money  Laundering  and 
Terrorist  Financing;  the  European  Criminal  Records  Information  System  (ECRIS)  and  the 
Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications (ePrivacy) Regulation. Reaching swift 
agreements on these proposals is vital and this report will look at the current state of play on 
each.  

The  focus  on  implementation  also  applies  to  existing  legislation,  including  instruments  that 
are still in the phase of transposition. This report also provides an update on the key files in 
this  category  such  as  Explosive  Precursors,  Passenger  Name  Records  (PNR),  the  Prüm 
Decisions on sharing vehicle, fingerprint and DNA data between Member States and on the 
transposition of the Network Information Security (NIS) Directive.  

In  addition  to  progress  on  legislative  files  this  report  covers  implementation  of  some  key 
Security  Union  non-legislative  files  in  the  area  of  building  EU  resilience  such  as  the 
Commission's  work  on  countering  radicalisation  through  the  Radicalisation  Awareness 
Network, on Soft Target Protection, and on Aviation Security in third countries. 

The next monthly report in April will focus on organised crime and the priorities for the 2017 
EU  "Policy  Cycle"  which  provides  a  strategic  framework  to  reinforce  effective  cooperation 
among  national  law  enforcement  agencies,  EU  agencies  and  EU  institutions  in  this  area  as 
well as on operational police and judicial cooperation, including Joint Investigation Teams.  

IMPLEMENTATION  OF  LEGISLATIVE  PRIORITIES  FOR  BETTER 

II. 
PROTECTING THE SECURITY OF CITIZENS  

Last  month,  the  EU  made  an  important  step  forward  in  the  fight  against  terrorism  with  the 
adoption  by  the  European  Parliament  of  the  Commission's  proposal  for  a  Directive  on 
combating terrorism. The  Council  is  now  due  to  adopt  the  proposal in  early  March.  Once 
implemented, the new Directive will provide law enforcement agencies and prosecutors with 
key tools to fight the evolving terrorist threat including the criminalisation of behaviour linked 
to foreign terrorist fighters, terrorist training and the financing of terrorism. The Directive will 
also improve  the  existing  rules  on exchange  of information  on  terrorist offences  and  enable 
the  taking  down  of  online  terrorist  content,  helping  to  keep  the  EU  safer,  while  respecting 
fundamental  rights.  Finally,  the  Directive  will  improve  the  status  and  rights  of  victims  of 

1   https://ec.europa.eu/priorities/publications/joint-declaration-eus-legislative-priorities-2017_en  

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terrorism, ensuring that they have access to support services, immediately after an attack and 
for as long as necessary thereafter. Following political agreement between the co-legislators 
in  November  2016,  the  European  Parliament  plenary  voted  in  favour  of  the  proposal  on  16 
February  and  the  Council  will  now  proceed  with  formal  adoption  in  early  March.  Member 
States  have  18  months  to  transpose  the  Directive  into  national  law.  The  Commission  will 
facilitate a swift and correct transposition in the Member States through a series of workshops 
starting  before  the  summer  of  2017.  With  the  Directive,  the  EU  transposes  the  2015 
Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe convention on terrorism. Many Member States 
have already taken the necessary steps to update their legislation in line with the Protocol. 

Following  political  agreement  between  the  co-legislators  on  20  December  2016  on  the 
revision of the Firearms Directive to tighten controls and prohibitions on the most dangerous 
weapons,  the  European  Parliament  plenary  is  due  to  vote  on  14  March.  The  proposal 
significantly  broadens  the  range  of  weapons  falling  under  the  strictest  Category  A  ban 
including  automatic  weapons  converted  into  semi-automatic  and  military-grade  semi- 
automatic weapons with high capacity magazines and loading devices. Once the Directive is 
implemented it will no longer be possible to buy or trade these weapons other than for a very 
narrowly  defined  group  of  licence  holders  such  as  museums  or  sports  shooters  who  will  be 
subject  to  stringent  security  and  monitoring  requirements.  The  proposal  significantly 
strengthens  controls  on  traceability,  marking  and  deactivated  weapons.  In  parallel,  the 
Commission  has  taken  forward  work  in  the  technical  committee  on  deactivation  standards 
with Member States' experts. Agreement was reached on 8 February on revised more stringent 
technical  criteria  which  will  now  be  tested  to  ensure  they  deliver  effective  irreversibility  of 
deactivation before being formally adopted. In parallel the Commission is stepping up action 
to  combat  the  illicit  trade  in  weapons  both  with  key  third  countries  such  as  those  in  the 
Western  Balkans.  The  fight  against  illegal  firearms  should  also  be  a  priority  in  the  next 
"Policy Cycle" on serious and organised crime for the period 2017-2021. 

Discussions  are  on-going  in  the  European  Parliament  and  Council  on  the  Commission 
proposals  to  establish  an  EU  Entry/Exit  System  to  improve  border  management,  combat 
irregular  migration  and  strengthen  internal  security  by  recording  the  movements  of  third 
country  nationals  across  the  Schengen  area  external  borders,  and  on  a  European  Travel 
Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will put in place a system to allow 
advance  checks  for  security  and  migration  risks  on  visa-exempt  travellers.  The  European 
Parliament's  Committee  on  Civil  Liberties,  Justice  and  Home  Affairs  (LIBE)  adopted  its 
negotiating mandate  on  the  EU  Entry/Exit  System  on  27  February  2017.  The  Commission 
urges both co-legislators to make swift progress in the subsequent negotiations, mindful of the 
target date of June 2017 as set by the European Council in December 2016.  

On  ETIAS,  Member  States'  experts  are  discussing  the  Commission  proposal  at  Council 
working  group  level  while  the  European  Parliament's  LIBE  Committee  has  appointed  its 
rapporteur for the file.  

As  regards  the  Commission  proposal  to  extend  the  Exchange  of  Criminal  Records 
Information  System  (ECRIS)  to  third  country  nationals,  the  Commission  is  examining 
technical  solutions  for  a  centralised  infrastructure  to  support  the  exchange  of  such 
information.  Taking  into  account  the  recommendations  of  the  High  Level  Expert  Group  on 
Information Systems and Interoperability to be presented in April 2017, the Commission will 
present a modified legislative proposal in June 2017. 
The Commission's proposal for  targeted amendments to  the 4th Anti  Money  Laundering 
Directive  was  adopted  by  the  College  on  5  July  2016.  Having  examined  the  proposal,  the 
Council reached a negotiating mandate on 20 December 2016. The proposal was designed to 

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cover  new  means  of  terrorist  financing  such  as  virtual  currencies  and  pre-paid  cards  and  to 
increase transparency to help to combat money laundering. The European  Parliament report 
was  adopted  on  28  February  2017.  The  Commission  calls  on  the  co-legislators  to  finalise 
negotiations  as  quickly  as  possible  on  this  important  proposal  which  will  help  to  further 
reduce the means available to terrorists.  

The  legislative  process  has  begun  in  both  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the 
Commission's  proposal  for  a  Regulation  on  Privacy  and  Electronic  Communications 
(ePrivacy).  The  aim  is  to  deliver  a  level  playing  field  for  electronic  communications 
providers,  achieving  a  high  level  of  protection  for  consumers  while  allowing  businesses  to 
innovate.  In  the  European  Parliament,  the  LIBE  Committee  will  be  in  the  lead  with  a 
rapporteur  to  be  designated  shortly,  and  with  ITRE,  JURI  and  IMCO  Committees  being 
associated. Work has also started at Council working group level. Being a priority file for the 
three institutions, progress is expected to be achieved swiftly so that the Regulation can apply 
by 24 May 2018, at the same time as the entry into application of the General Data Protection 
Regulation.   

III. IMPLEMENTATION OF OTHER LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES  

Beyond the pending proposals mentioned in the Joint Declaration, it is important to note that 
work is on-going in the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission proposal to 
reinforce the Schengen Information System (SIS) to improve border management and better 
fight terrorism and cross-border crime. Member States' experts are discussing the proposal at 
Council working group level. The European Parliament's LIBE Committee is currently in the 
process of appointing its rapporteur. The proposed measures will deliver key improvements in 
information  sharing  and cooperation between Member States, notably  through an obligation 
to  create  a  SIS  alert  in  cases  related  to  terrorist  offences,  the  introduction  of  a  new  alert 
category on "unknown wanted persons", the introduction of systematic checks of EU citizens 
against  the  SIS  at  external  borders  and  the  addition  of  full  access  rights  for  Europol.  The 
proposed  changes  will  also  contribute  to  the  effective  enforcement  of  entry  bans  for  third-
country nationals at the external border by making their introduction in the SIS compulsory. 
They  will  improve  the  enforcement  of  return  decisions  issued  to  irregularly  staying  third-
country nationals by introducing a new alert category for return decisions. The Commission 
calls on the co-legislators to expedite work on this important file. 

On  21  December  2016,  the  Commission  proposed  a  new  Directive  to  criminalise  money 
laundering  which  would  also  provide  competent  authorities  with  adequate  criminal  law 
provisions  to  prosecute  criminals  and  terrorists.  The  proposed  measures  –  once  agreed  – 
would establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions 
related  to  money  laundering;  close  existing  gaps  in  difference  between  national  rules  that 
criminals  can  exploit;  remove  obstacles  to  cross-border  judicial  and  police  cooperation  by 
setting  common  provisions  to  improve  the  investigation  of  offences  related  to  money 
laundering; and bring the EU norms in line with the international obligations in this area, as 
set  out  in  the  Council  of  Europe  Warsaw  Convention  and  Financial  Action  Task  Force 
recommendations.  Since  then,  discussion  has  begun  in  the  Council  at  working  group  level 
with the aim of reaching a general approach before the summer. Discussions are expected to 
start  shortly  in  the  European  Parliament.  The  Commission  welcomes  these  positive 
developments and encourages the co-legislators to prioritise this dossier. 

In  the  area  of  aviation  security,  existing  EU  legislation  establishing  the  technical 
specifications  and  performance  requirements  for  aviation  security  screening  equipment  at 

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EU  airports  does  not  establish  a  legally  binding  EU-wide  conformity  assessment  scheme  to 
ensure that the required standards are met at all EU airports. As a result, equipment certified 
in one EU Member State cannot be put on the market in others. The Commission therefore put 
forward a proposal in September 2016 to establish a single EU certification system based on a 
common testing methodology and the issuance of certificates of conformity by manufacturers, 
which  would  be  valid  in  all  EU  Member  States,  according  to  the  principle  of  mutual 
recognition.  The  creation  of  such  a  system  will  help  overcome  market  fragmentation, 
strengthen  the  competitiveness  of  the  EU  security  industry,  boost  employment  in  the  sector 
and  ultimately  contribute  to  improving  aviation  security  across  Europe.  The  proposal  is 
currently being discussed by co-legislators at working level. 

The  Commission  has  continued  to  work  to  ensure  that  EU  rules  in  the  area  of  illicit 
manufacturing  of  homemade  explosives  are  adapted  to  emerging  threats.2  In  November 
2016, the rules on the marketing and use of explosive precursor substances that can be used 
in  the  illicit  manufacturing  of  homemade  explosives  were  reinforced  by  adding  three 
substances3  to  the  list4  of  substances subject  to  strict  reporting  obligation  on  any  suspicious 
transactions, disappearances and thefts. In addition, the Commission intends to launch in 2017 
an evaluation of the effectiveness of Regulation (EU) No 98/2013 in order to strengthen the 
existing restrictions and controls.  

The Commission has also taken action against those Member States that still have not fully 
implemented  all  provisions  of  Regulation  (EU)  No  98/2013  on  the  marketing  and  use  of 
explosives  precursors.  Following  the  first  steps  of  infringement  procedures  in  May  and 
September  2016,  the  Commission  launched  the  second  step  on  15  February  by  addressing 
reasoned  opinions  to  Cyprus,  France  and  Romania.  These  Member  States  have  not  yet  laid 
down  the  required  rules  on  penalties  applicable  to  infringements  of  the  restrictions  and 
controls  imposed  on  the  dangerous  chemicals  which  could  be  used  by  terrorists  to 
manufacture homemade explosives.  

The Commission is continuing to support Member States in the swift implementation of the 
EU  Passenger  Name  Record  (PNR)  Directive  and  the  setting  up  of  Passenger  Information 
Units  (PIUs)  in  each  Member  State.  In  December  2016,  the  Commission  organised  a  third 
meeting with Member States' experts to share lessons learned and best practice. The indicative 
milestones for the setting up of PIUs as set out in the Commission's Implementation Plan of 
November 2016 are being used to monitor the implementation of the Directive. As compared 
to the situation outlined in the Implementation Plan, six Member States can now be included 
in the category of Member States that have both functional or almost functional PNR systems 
in  place and a  dedicated legal  basis providing for the collection or  processing of PNR data. 
The Commission regularly receives information from all Member States on the advancement 
of the implementation  process. In  2017 EUR 70  million are programmed under the Internal 
Security  Fund  for  the  implementation  of  the  PNR  Directive  and  the  Commission  is  in 
discussion with Member States on the revision of their national programmes under the Fund 
to allocate the additional funding. 
In  the area of information  exchange between Member States,  the  Prüm  Decisions5 of 2008 
introduced procedures for fast and efficient data exchanges between Member States by laying 

2   See also: Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of, 
and delegation of power under Regulation (EU) 98/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 
the marketing and use of explosives precursors, 28.2.2017. 

3   Commission delegated regulations (EU) 2017/214, 2017/215 and 2017/216 of 30 November 2016, OJ L 34, 

9.2.2017, p. 1–6. 

4   Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 98/2013, OJ L 39, 9.2.2013, p. 1.  
5   Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA. 

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down rules and providing a framework to allow Member States to search each other's DNA 
analysis files, fingerprint identification systems and vehicle registration data bases. Prüm was 
a  tool  that  helped  French  investigators  after  the  Paris  terrorist  attacks  of  November  2015. 
Considerable progress  has  been  made  in the implementation of Prüm in recent  months with 
increasing  volumes  of  data  exchange.  However,  a  number  of  Member  States  have  still  to 
implement  the  Decisions  almost  a  decade  later.  The  Commission  has  therefore  used  the 
enforcement powers it acquired under the Treaty of Lisbon in the Justice and Home Affairs 
area6  to  launch  infringement  cases  against  Croatia,  Greece,  Ireland,  Italy  and  Portugal  for 
failing to comply with the Prüm Decisions.7  
The  Fourth  Security  Union  Progress  Report8  outlined  the  different  work  strands  already 
underway  to  address  cyber  threats,  and  recalled  the  central  role  of  the  Network  and 
Information  Security  (NIS)  Directive  that  lays  the  groundwork  for  improved  EU  level 
cooperation  and  cyber-resilience.  The  first  formal  meeting  of  the  NIS  Cooperation  Group 
created by the Directive was held in February with Member States, the Commission and the 
European  Union  Agency  for  Network  and  Information  Security  (ENISA).  The  Group 
addressed key issues of transposition and agreed to take work forward in expert groups on a 
number  of  aspects,  including  the  criteria  to  define  the  criticality  of  an  operator,  the 
consultation  process  in  cases  of  cross-border  impact  of  an  operator,  and  the  procedure  for 
information  between  affected  Member  States.  To  support 
mandatory  sharing  of 
implementation of the cybercrime acquis, the Commission addressed reasoned opinions to 
Bulgaria,  Belgium  and  Ireland  in  December  2016,  which  have  not  communicated  complete 
transposition of Directive 2013/40/EU on attacks against information systems in their national 
legislation.  On  16  December, 
the 
implementation  of  Directive  2011/93/EU  on  combating  the  sexual  abuse  and  sexual 
exploitation  of  children  and  child  pornography,  with  one  report  focusing  specifically  on 
measures  Member  States  are  taking  against  websites  containing  or  disseminating  child 
pornography. 

the  Commission  also  adopted 

two  reports9  on 

IV. IMPLEMENTATION OF NON-LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

The Commission plays a key role in driving, facilitating, financing and coordinating work in a 
number of non-legislative areas central to the fight against terrorism and organised crime such 
as  radicalisation,  soft  target  protection,  transport  security,  cyber  security  and  hybrid  threats. 
Responding  to  the  threats  posed  by  returning  foreign  terrorist  fighters  and  on-line 
radicalisation requires a sustained effort to identify, support and monitor those vulnerable to 
radicalisation  while  at  the  same  time  working  to  reduce  on-line  terrorist  propaganda  and  to 
provide credible counter narratives. The December 2016 Berlin attack once again highlighted 
the importance of soft target protection.  

The Commission and the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) Centre of Excellence 
are accelerating work to provide both practitioners and policy makers with concrete guidance 
and  recommendations  to  more  effectively  prevent  and  counter  existing  and  emerging 

6   As of 1 December 2014 being end of a five year transitional period foreseen in Protocol 36 of the Treaty of 

Lisbon. 

7   These  Member  States  have  not  yet  ensured  automated  data  exchanges  in  at  least  two  of  the  three  data 
categories  of  DNA,  fingerprints  and  national  vehicle  registration  data.  All  five  Member  States  have 
responded  to  the  letters  of  formal  notice.    The  responses  are  currently  being  assessed by  the  Commission 
services.   

8   COM(2017) 41 final. 
9   COM(2016) 871 final and COM(2016) 872 final. 

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challenges  of  radicalisation.  In  February  2017,  the  Commission  launched  a  new  network  of 
national prevention policy makers. This new policy network pursues two main objectives: to 
strengthen  and  institutionalise  the  exchange  of  expertise  and  experiences  on  "prevent" 
approaches and prevention policies among Member States; and to ensure closer involvement 
of  Member  States  in  RAN  activities.  It  will  complement  the  existing  RAN,  which  brings 
together  first  line  practitioners,  with  a  more  policy-oriented  network  and  help  ensure  that 
good practices are mainstreamed into new policy initiatives.  

The RAN Centre of Excellence has also launched work on a manual on returnee responses 
to provide practitioners across Europe with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to 
ensure the most appropriate and the most effective intervention. As some of these individuals 
will be returning with very young children, the Commission has tasked the RAN to produce 
guidance  on  how  to  protect  and  support  children  who  have  been  born  or  raised  in  terrorist-
held territory or who have been raised in a radicalised environment within the EU. 

In addition, the RAN will develop in 2017 a manual presenting specific guidelines to prevent 
polarisation  and  tackle  radicalisation.  The  RAN  Centre  of  Excellence  will  produce  two 
toolkits, on radicalisation awareness training for front line practitioners on local strategies 
and approaches to help those fighting radicalisation at grass roots level.  

As  regards  online  radicalisation,  actions  agreed  with  internet  companies  at  the  December 
2016  meeting  of  the  EU  Internet  Forum  are  currently  in  the  phase  of  implementation.  The 
'database  of  hashes',  a  platform  to  flag  terrorist  online  content  in  order  to  ensure  its 
irreversible  removal,  developed  by  the  internet  industry  in  close  cooperation  with  the 
Commission, is expected to be launched this month. The Commission on 15 March 2017 will 
also launch its Civil Society Empowerment Programme, with a financial endowment of EUR 
15 million to strengthen effective counter-messages online. 

Prevention of radicalisation also means addressing its root causes, including stigmatisation of 
communities, intolerance and racism. The Commission is promoting education, inter-cultural 
dialogue, inclusion and non-discrimination action through EU funding. In January 2017, the 
Commission  received  project  applications  under  the  Rights,  Equality  and  Citizenship 
Programme10 aiming, inter alia, at preventing and combating Antisemitism and anti-Muslim 
hatred and intolerance, and at fostering better understanding between different communities, 
including  through  interreligious  and  intercultural  activities.  Action  is  also  being  taken  to 
develop tools and practices to prevent and counter online racist and xenophobic hate speech.  

As  announced  in  the  Fourth  Security  Union  Progress  Report,  the  Commission  convened  in 
February  the  first  workshop  on  Soft  Target  Protection  bringing  together  Member  States 
experts across various disciplines (counter-terrorism, law enforcement, transport security and 
research)  to  discuss  ways  to  improve  the  protection  of  soft  targets  (transport,  sport  events, 
shopping  malls,  schools,  etc.).  The  workshop  is  the  first  step  in  the  development  of  an  EU 
platform for Member States to exchange experience to increase their resilience and protection 
against  future soft target  attacks. The following areas were identified for further exchanges: 
integration  of  risk  assessment  methodologies  into  the  planning  of  public  events  or  the 
protection  of  crowded  areas;  tackling  the  challenge  posed  by  insider  threats  through  re-
examination of vetting procedures; strengthening early detection of weapons and explosives 
through  the  testing  and  use  of  innovative  detection  equipment  and  by  exploring  possible 
common standards for purposes other than aviation; raising public awareness and responses 
to attack situations and closer engagement between governments and private stakeholders. A 

10   In January 2017 the deadline expired for applications for the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme's 

call for proposals of EUR 4.475.000. 

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further  priority  area  identified  was  joint  work  on  "protection  by  urban  planning"  for  the 
construction of new buildings and public areas. 

In the field of hybrid threats, the Commission and the High Representative, will report to the 
Council in July 2017 on the implementation of the 22 actions in the 2016 Joint Framework on 
countering hybrid threats, which covers notably the protection of critical infrastructure (e.g. in 
the field of energy and transport infrastructure and systems). The Joint Framework is designed 
to  foster  the  resilience  of  the  EU  and  Member  States  as  well  as  partners  and  to  enhance 
cooperation with NATO11 in countering such threats.  

In the area of transport security, the EU has developed a robust aviation security framework. 
However,  flights  coming  into  the  EU  from  third  countries  can  present  vulnerabilities. 
There is a need to close this potential security loophole through international cooperation via 
the  International  Civil  Aviation  Organisation  (ICAO)  as  well  as  bilateral  capacity  building 
efforts  in  line  with  the  UN  Security  Council  Resolution  2309.12  In  January  2017,  the 
Commission,  together  with  the  Member  States  and  the  European  External  Action  Service 
launched  work  to  develop  a  matrix  combining  risk  assessment  and  detailed  elements  of 
vulnerability  to  provide  the  basis  for  prioritisation  and  coordination  of  external  capacity-
building efforts. In parallel, the Commission is accelerating its work on defining a common 
approach to security in maritime and land transport, which should be risk-based, proportionate 
and sustainable.  

Following the outcome of the discussion at the 8-9 December 2016 Justice and Home Affairs 
Council  meeting,  Member  States  called  for  a  reflection  process  on  how  to  deal  with 
encryption  in  the  context  of  criminal  investigations.  The  Commission  has  launched  two 
parallel workstreams: legal and technical to collect information and explore options on how to 
address  the  need  to  overcome  encryption  barriers  where  needed  for  the  purpose  of  serious 
crime investigations while maintaining trust and security in the digital world. 

Concerning  the  external  dimension  of  counter-terrorism,  the  implementation  of  the 
February 2015 Council Conclusions is on track with an increase of 60% in counter-terrorism-
related projects with third countries totalling EUR 225 million focusing on building capacity 
of partners. Discussions were held with Tunisia at the second high level political dialogue on 
security  and  counter-terrorism  on  19  January  2017.  They  addressed  an  action  plan  on  arms 
trafficking, joint work on terrorist financing, strengthening border management capacity and 
further  cooperation  in  the  prevention  of  radicalisation,  with  a  view  to  agreeing  a  2017  EU-
Tunisia joint Counter-Terrorism Work Plan. Since the beginning of the year, the EU has also 
held  dedicated  discussions  on  counter-terrorism  with  a  number  of  third  countries  including 
Saudi Arabia, Russia and Australia, and hosted a delegation from the League of Arab States.  

V. CONCLUSION 

Building an effective and sustainable Security Union requires close cooperation between the 
Commission, the European Parliament and Member States to deliver both the legislative and 
non-legislative  components  that  together  strengthen  security  for  our  citizens.  The  Joint 
Declaration legislative priorities with Security Union relevance are key building blocks, and 
teamwork  will  be  required  to  ensure  their  rapid  and  full  delivery.  Swift  and  effective 

11   In line with the Joint declaration by the President of the European Council, the President of the European 

Commission, and the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 8 July 2016. 

12   United Nations Security Council, Resolution 2309 (2016), 22 September 2016. 

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implementation must follow in order for these actions to be effective. The Commission will 
continue to play its part fully in ensuring that this happens.  

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