The European Commission today proposed additional measures to enhance internal security in the EU. The security environment has changed due to geopolitical events and hybrid threats from hostile foreign states, the commission said in a statement on this occasion, BTA reports.
The EU must review its security strategy, including a threat assessment when considering projects with European funding, the commission says. It is proposed to regularly assess the security environment, to increase the exchange of intelligence between EU countries, to increase the number of employees of the European border service "Frontex" by 30,000, to increase the powers of "Europol".
According to the commission, it is necessary to introduce a new common communication system between state authorities in the EU, to improve the protection of critical infrastructure, to diversify the sources of import of raw materials and goods, to better protect airports and ports, to prepare a plan for action in case of chemical, biological and nuclear threats. The EC proposes to adopt additional legislation to combat organised crime, including arms trafficking, to adopt measures against radicalisation and to review the EU's visa policy.
Presenting the proposals to MEPs in Strasbourg, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said that Europeans must start thinking about security in everything they do. Our enemies are not on the battlefield, but lurk in the shadows of the financial system and in the backwaters of the internet, he added. Terrorist threats are increasing, the situation in the Middle East is increasing tensions between ethnic groups in Europe, the Commissioner noted.