EU – Western Balkans Justice and Home Affairs ministerial forum - joint press statement: Security – Police cooperation, countering terrorism/violent extremism and organised crime

08.10.2018

Logo: The Council of the European Union

Home Affairs session

Security – Police cooperation, countering terrorism/violent extremism extremism and organised crime

The Ministers acknowledged that terrorism and radicalisation continue to be a common challenge for the European Union and the Western Balkans region and that close cooperation was essential for preventing radicalisation and terrorism. Ministers agreed that the existing formats and networks of cooperation, including through the Radicalisation Awareness Network, should be further strengthened.

The Ministers and the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, representing the European Union, signed the Joint Action Plan on Counter Terrorism for the Western Balkans. It calls on Western Balkan partners and the European Union to take ambitious actions in order to reach their counter-terrorism objectives. Ministers discussed that they faced similar challenges in responding to the security threat posed by violent extremism and agreed to work together to address its root-causes and to build resilient and cohesive societies. They further acknowledged the usefulness of regular exchanges with the Western Balkans partners to identify priorities and designing concrete joint actions. The Ministers committed to put in place mechanisms required for strengthening their perational partnership, including between EU Member States and Europol with a view to efficiently and effectively address counter-terrorism and radicalisation, but also transnational organised crime and border security, including by strengthening their capability to process and exchange Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records data.

They committed to continue to joint actions to enhance seizures of firearms, ammunition and explosives, to improve security of firearms and ammunition storage capacities, and to periodic disposals of surplus arms and ammunition, particularly those confiscated from illegal activities. The Ministers also welcomed the EU assistance in providing training on firearms to law enforcement officers. The Ministers also welcomed the initialling of working arrangements for cooperation between the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Albania. The Ministers agreed to continue cooperation on all the issues discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Forum and to have further exchanges at their next meeting.

Complete PRESS RELEASE read on this Link

Press office - General Secretariat of the Council

press.office@consilium.europa.eu - www.consilium.europa.eu/press