Document ID: 32007H0562

Reference:
17.8.2007
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 214/9
COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION
of 12 June 2007
concerning sharing of information on terrorist kidnappings
(2007/562/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Whereas:
(1)
Kidnappings by groups/individuals that can be placed within the spectrum of international terrorism pose a huge challenge to Member States.
(2)
To successfully resolve such situations, Member States must gather background information, establish contacts and initiate discussions in a confidential setting.
(3)
The capacities of the Member State concerned would be significantly strengthened if it were able to resort to experience which other Member States have gained in comparable situations.
(4)
To this end, each Member State should submit a data sheet containing key information on past kidnappings to the other Member States giving only unclassified information after the incident has been resolved and restricted to incidents related to international terrorism,
HEREBY RECOMMENDS,
1.
Member States:
(a)
to submit, after a kidnapping incident has been resolved, the following data (1):
—
country and region in which the kidnapping took place,
—
number and nationality of the hostage(s),
—
time and date of the kidnapping,
—
time and date of the end of the incident,
—
perpetrators/responsible terrorist group,
—
modus operandi of the kidnapping,
—
motivation for the kidnapping,
—
involvement of a mediator yes/no,
—
contact person in the Member State concerned.
This information should be submitted in accordance with the format set out in Annex 1.
(b)
to also submit the following additional information if appropriate:
—
hostages’ reason for being in the country, language skills, gender of the hostage,
—
ideology, nationality, language skills of the perpetrators,
—
means used by the perpetrators to address the public,
—
details on the perpetrators’ modus operandi.
This optional information should be submitted in accordance with the format set out in Annex 2.
2.
If personal data are to be included, such data are to be submitted in accordance with national law.
3.
Member States to compile information on all incidents which have occurred since 1 January 2002 and submit this summary to the other Member States.
4.
Member States to share information on the basis of the abovementioned principles through the BdL network for EU-wide information sharing on terrorist incidents.
5.
Member States to share, as far as possible, the information also with Europol and on the basis of the amount and type of shared data, after one year, to examine whether it would be advisable to set up a database at Europol.
6.
Member States to draw up a list of contact details and exchange this list in order to facilitate direct communication between contact points.
(1)  In case of a kidnapping this information could help to quickly identify whether another Member State already has experience with kidnappings of EU citizens in the same region, by the same terrorist group or under comparable circumstances. The Member State concerned can then contact the specified contact person. Further information and experience should be shared bilaterally in accordance with national law.
ANNEX 1
Notification of terrorist kidnap
(or suspected terrorist kidnap)
Please complete all fields in this box
ANNEX 2
Completion of the following information is optional in accordance with national law

Summary:
Terrorist kidnappings — sharing information
Terrorist kidnappings — sharing information
SUMMARY OF:
Council recommendation on sharing of information on terrorist kidnappings
SUMMARY
WHAT DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION DO?
It sets out a procedure for the sharing of experiences between EU countries to help resolve terrorist kidnapping situations.
KEY POINTS
Terrorist kidnappings pose a huge challenge to EU countries. To successfully resolve such situations, countries need background information, to establish contacts and initiate confidential discussions. Sharing information can quickly identify whether another EU country already has helpful experience with kidnappings in the same region, by the same terrorist group or in similar circumstances.
To achieve this, each EU country is recommended to circulate data sheets to other EU countries on any terrorist kidnapping, after the incident has been resolved.
This information should include:
country and region in which the kidnapping took place;
number and nationalities of the hostages;
time and date of the kidnapping and its conclusion;
responsible terrorist group or perpetrator;
kidnapping method;
motivation for the kidnapping;
any mediator involvement;
contact person in the EU country concerned.
The following additional information should also be supplied where appropriate:
the hostages’ reason for being in the country, their language skills and gender;
the ideology, nationality and language skills of the perpetrators;
means used by the perpetrators to address the public;
details on the perpetrators’ method of operation.
Annexes to the recommendation propose a standard format for this information, as well as suggestions for additional information to be supplied, such as negotiating strategy, delaying tactics and whether ransoms or political demands were involved.
Further information and experience should be shared bilaterally in accordance with national law. Handling of personal data should also be in accordance with national law.
Each EU country should compile information on any incidents occurring since 1 January 2002 and supply a summary to other EU countries. A list of contact persons should also circulate in order to facilitate direct communication.
Information should be shared through the bi-directional link network for EU-wide information sharing on terrorist incidents (see Council Decision 2005/671/JHA). Information should also be shared with Europol, with a review after 12 months to determine whether the amount and type of data requires a database.
BACKGROUND
              
For more information, see:
‘Crisis and Terrorism’ on the European Commission's website
‘Fight against terrorism’ on the website of the Council of the European Union
ACT
Council Recommendation of 12 June 2007 concerning sharing of information on terrorist kidnappings (OJ L 214, 17.8.2007, pp. 9-12)
RELATED ACTS
            
Council Decision 2005/671/JHA of 20 September 2005 on the exchange of information and cooperation concerning terrorist offences (OJ L 253, 29.9.2005, pp. 22-24).
last update 03.05.2016