The EU's first Internal Security Strategy was adopted by the ministers for the interior on 25 February. It lays down a European security model, which integrates action on law enforcement and judicial cooperation, border management and civil protection, with due respect for shared European values, such as fundamental rights.

The new EU Internal Security Strategy sets out the main threats and challenges the EU faces. They include various types of crime, such as terrorism, organised crime, cyber-crime and even youth violence. Natural and man-made disasters, such as forest fires and energy shortages, also require cross-border preparedness and response. Another challenge is to address common phenomena that pose threats to citizens across Europe, for example road accidents.

The Strategy places a strong focus on prevention. Member states need to step up intelligence sharing, making full use of biometric and other technologies. This will serve not only to bring offenders to justice but also to forestall crime.

Prevention also means tackling the root causes and involving a wide range of actors. Cooperation will be sought, for instance, with schools, in order to prevent young people going down the criminal path. In the private sector, financial institutions can contribute to the prevention of money laundering. Civil society organisations could play a role in running public awareness campaigns.

Since internal security depends to a large extent on external security, it is necessary to work closely with the EU's neighbours and other countries as well as with international organisations.

The work of agencies, institutions and bodies is very important: a number of agencies specific to the EU have been created and these include Europol, whose main aims are to collect and exchange information and to facilitate cooperation between law-enforcement authorities in their fight against organised crime and terrorism,Eurojust, which drives coordination and increases the effectiveness of judicial authorities, and Frontex, which manages operational cooperation at the external borders.

The EU has also created the role of the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. Other bodies and networks have also been established in the fields of training, drugs, crime prevention, corruption and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

Next steps

Following the Action Plan for the implementation of the Stockholm Programme, the Commission will adopt a Communication on the Internal Security Strategy which will include action oriented proposals. Further developing, monitoring and implementing the Internal Security Strategy must become one of the priority tasks of the Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI). Furthermore, according to the Stockholm Programme, the Commission will consider the feasibility of setting up an Internal Security Fund to promote the implementation of the Internal Security Strategy.