EU approves 40 mln euros for police internal security fund

The European Commission on Monday said it approved the 2015 annual work program for the internal security fund for police amounting to 40 million euros (44.82 million U.S. dollars), including 1 million euros envisaged for emergency assistance.

In order to maintain and improve the internal security, the EU seeks to enhance capacity and preparedness of member states and the EU for CBRN-E related (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear materials and explosives) risks and crises.

The programs will provide support to transnational initiatives fighting organized crime and criminal networks. They will focus particularly on drugs and firearms trafficking, smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings involving EU member states located along smuggling routes and in cooperation with relevant third countries, noted the Commission.

In addition, investments in horizontal tools for police cooperation, such as information exchange and training, were envisaged.

"In an increasingly globalized world, we need to be able to deal with transnational security threats. That is why the European Commission came forward with the European Agenda on Security, and why we are supporting practitioners, governments and police authorities at all levels to collaborate better and exchange information and best practices across borders," said Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship. Endit