EU counter-terrorism policy: main achievements and future challenges

The Council discussed and welcomed the latest discussion paper on the implementation of the EU Counter-terrorism Strategy, presented by the EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator (see Council document 10622/1/11).

In his discussion paper on the EU Counter-terrorism Strategy, the EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator analyses the consequences for the fight against terrorism of Osama Bin Laden's death, and the counter-narrative against Al Qaeda's ideology. He also looks at the risks and opportunities deriving from the recent developments in North Africa and the continuous challenges the international community faces in Pakistan.

The paper then focuses on a number of key challenges in relation to the following issues:

• prevention - developing a vision and countering the terrorist narrative;
• transport security (including land transport such as high-speed trains);
• security related research and an industrial policy for the security industry; and
• the strategy on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear security (CBRN).