Counter-Terrorism Policy of the EU: Analysis of Legislative Initiatives and Their Impact on the Security Situation

Abstract

The relevance of this study is due to the growing threats of terrorism in the European Union, which requires the introduction of effective legislative initiatives to ensure the safety of citizens. Following a series of terrorist attacks in the 2000s and 2010s, the EU has stepped up its efforts to create a standard counterterrorism policy aimed at improving coordination between member states, countering terrorist financing, preventing radicalisation and combating terrorist groups. Particular attention is paid to ensuring law and order in the context of new hybrid threats, including cyber-terrorism. The article emphasises the importance of addressing this issue in the context of escalating terrorist threats and the need to strike a balance between security and human rights.

The study’s purpose is to analyse the EU’s counterterrorism policy, in particular, legislative initiatives aimed at countering terrorism, and assess their impact on the security situation in the EU. The article identifies the main challenges EU institutions face in this area and provides recommendations for improving the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures.

The study’s methodological basis is the analysis of the EU legal framework, in particular, directives and decisions of the EU Council, as well as the comparison of approaches to counterterrorism in different member states. The author uses systematic analysis to study the main stages of the evolution of the EU’s counterterrorism policy and its adaptation to modern threats.

The study shows that EU institutions have initiated and implemented several critical legislative measures to counter terrorism, such as controlling the financing of terrorist groups, preventing radicalisation on the Internet, and strengthening cooperation between law enforcement agencies. At the same time, problems still need to be solved due to the heterogeneity of the national legal systems of the member states, which complicates operational coordination and information exchange. The author also notes the difficulties in respecting the rights and freedoms of citizens in implementing anti-terrorism measures.

The article concludes by substantiating the importance of adapting the EU legislative framework to the current challenges in the field of counterterrorism, in particular, hybrid threats and cyberterrorism. The author establishes that harmonisation of legal provisions and strengthening of coordination mechanisms between Member States are prerequisites for enhancing the effectiveness of counterterrorism measures. The author emphasises the relevance of introducing tools to counter radicalisation in the digital environment and strengthen critical infrastructure protection.

Further research is needed to analyse modern forms of terrorist threats, particularly disinformation and cyberterrorism, and to develop new strategies to strengthen coordination between EU countries in the field of counterterrorism.