Europe at risk of ‘huge number’ of returning jihadist fighters

Report of discussions at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, Luxembourg, 9 October 2014 on the issue of foreign fighters, on the basis of a document prepared by the Italian EU Presidency in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator.

Angelino Alfano, Minister for the Interior and President of the Council said: 'Ministers agreed on the urgency of making progress on the EU PNR (Passenger Name Record) directive and called on the European Parliament to adopt its position to start negotiations with the Council and finalise the work as soon as possible'.

The Council also agreed that the checks at external borders should be improved without further delay under the existing legal framework and on certain specific actions that will help to speed up the implementation of the measures already agreed in this field.

European Commission: DG Home Affairs: Policies: Police co-operation: Passenger Name Record (PNR) http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/police-cooperation/passenger-name-record/index_en.htm

Council of the European Union: EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator: Foreign fighters and returnees from a counter-terrorism perspective, in particular with regard to Syria: state of play and proposals for future work, 28.05.14 http://www.statewatch.org/news/2014/jul/eu-council-syrian-fighters-9280-rev1-14.pdf

ESO: Background information: EU states adopt new counter-terrorism plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-states-adopt-new-counter-terrorism-plan/

ESO: Background information: Find further information in ESO on Islamic State http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=islamic%20state%20&searchOption=all

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/145033.pdf http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/145033.pdf

ESO: Background information: European governments play their part in driving young Muslims to extremism http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-governments-play-their-part-in-driving-young-muslims-to-extremism/

The Local.fr, 10.10.14: France wants urgent review of EU's borders http://www.thelocal.fr/20141010/france-wants-urgent-review-of-schengen

ESO: Background information: EU keen to revive passenger data bill after Brussels terrorist attack http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-keen-to-revive-passenger-data-bill-after-brussels-terrorist-attack/

EUObserver, 14.01.15: Up to 5,000 Europeans joined jihad, Europol chief says https://euobserver.com/news/127202

---