Wednesday 16 November: The Commission will publish the 2nd Progress Report towards an effective and genuine Security Union - Main contents

The news:

On Wednesday 16 November 2016, the European Commission i will present its second monthly report on progress made towards an effective and sustainable Security Union. The report will track the implementation of the various Commission work-streams in the area of security and will identify where more effort is needed. The report is based around two broad pillars: tackling terrorism and organised crime and the means that support them; and strengthening our defences and building resilience against them. The report will encompass the full range of policy in the area of security and will highlight action taken by EU Institutions and EU Agencies in this area.

The background:

Security has been a constant theme since the beginning of the Juncker Commission i's mandate - from President Juncker's Political Guidelines of July 2014 to the latest State of the Union address on September 2016.

The European Commission adopted the European Agenda on Security on 28 April 2015, setting out the main actions to ensure an effective EU response to terrorism and security threats in the European Union over the period 2015-2020.

Since the adoption of the Agenda, significant progress has been made in its implementation. Key areas of attention have been reinforced by Action Plans adopted in December 2015 on firearms and explosives, in February 2016 on strengthening the fight against terrorist financing, the Communication of 6 April 2016 on Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and Security, and the Communication of 20 April 2016 on Delivering on the European Agenda on Security to fight against terrorism and pave the way towards an effective and genuine Security Union.

Most recently, the launch on 6 October of a European Border and Coast Guard, as announced by President Juncker in his State of the Union Speech on 9 September 2015 and only 9 months after the Commission's proposal in December, shows a clear commitment to implement the measures under the European Agenda on Migration to reinforce the management and security of the EU's external borders.

The creation by President Juncker of a specific Commissioner portfolio for the Security Union in August 2016 shows the importance the Commission has attached to stepping up its response to the terrorist threat.

The event:

Wednesday 9 November 2016: The Commission will publish the second monthly Progress Report towards an effective and genuine Security Union

The sources:

Communication on progress towards an effective and genuine Security Union

Communication: Delivering on the European Agenda on Security to fight against terrorism and pave the way towards an effective and genuine Security Union

European Agenda on Security

Factsheet: Security Union

Questions and Answers: Paving the way towards a genuine and effective Security Union

Mission Letter to Sir Julian King, Commissioner for the Security Union

AGENDA/16/3709