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EU report outlines priority areas in addressing security challenges

Xinhua, October 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Commission on Wednesday outlined fighting radicalization and enhancing security at the external borders as two priority areas in addressing security challenges for the months to come in a report.

The report is the first in a series of monthly reports on progress made towards an effective and sustainable Security Union, according to a Commission statement.

It states the Commission's efforts in the fight against terrorism, organized crime and cyber crime, also highlighting the priority areas where more work is needed.

The report underlines that the Commission should step up work on improving the legal framework and preventing and fighting radicalization. To this end, a range of agreements should be reached before the end of the year, including the directive on combating terrorism and the revision of the firearms directive.

Another priority work of the Commission is to improve information exchange in a bid to enhance security at the external borders.

The report urges EU member states to take necessary steps to ensure that they are able to implement fully the EU passenger name record directive by May 2018.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, said: "The fragmentation of our security framework makes us all vulnerable. The dots have to be connected within and between member states, EU agencies, and different security and border management systems."

Europe's new Security Commissioner Julian King also stressed cooperation between institutions and member states in response to terrorist threats.

As requested by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the monthly reports will highlight action taken by the EU institutions and agencies in the area of security and will identify where more efforts are needed. The next progress report is foreseen for November 2016. Endit