Second progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union

This is the second monthly report on the progress made towards an effective and genuine Security Union and covers developments under two main pillars: tackling terrorism and organised crime and the means that support them; and strengthening our defences and building resilience against those threats. The first progress report, adopted on 12 October 2016, covered the period from April to October 2016: this Communication reports on progress since then and looks ahead to December 2016.

A year since the Paris attacks where reactivated military assault weapons were used with devastating effect, negotiations on the revision of the Firearms Directive tabled by the Commission on 18 November 2015 remain deadlocked by attempts to water down the proposals. The work must now be finalised before the end of this month if we are to honour the memory of the Paris victims and also to deliver on the legitimate expectation of our citizens that military grade weapons should not be in private hands. Negotiations also need urgently to be concluded on the Directive on Combatting Terrorism to criminalise terrorism and support for terrorism across the Union and on amendment of the Schengen Borders Code to help tackle returning Terrorist Fighters by introducing systematic checks of all persons crossing the external border.

In line with the priority underlined in President Juncker's 2016 State of the Union address and as elaborated in the Commission's Communication of 14 September 2016 on enhancing security in a world of mobility, the Commission is driving forward other important measures to close down the space for terrorists through proposals to strengthen borders. This includes bringing forward a proposal for an EU Travel and Identification Authorisation System (ETIAS) to allow for prior checks of third country nationals who do not require a visa to travel to the Union, and taking the necessary operational steps following the launch of the EU Border and Coast Guard to tighten controls at the external border.

The Commission has also further strengthened its work on countering radicalisation by reinforcing the Radicalisation Awareness Network to stop those who are young and vulnerable falling prey to terrorist recruiters and propaganda. December's report will be accompanied by the final proposals under the terrorist financing Action Plan to deny terrorists the financial means through proposals on the criminalisation of money laundering, strengthening the mutual recognition of assets freezing and confiscation orders as well as a proposal on tackling illicit cash payments.

ESO: Background information: European Agenda on Security: Second report on progress towards an effective and sustainable Security Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-agenda-on-security-second-report-on-progress-towards-an-effective-and-sustainable-security-union/

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