Europe has become a strategic target for terrorist infiltration. Its proximity to war zones as well as several terrorist strongholds in the Middle East and North Africa has pushed the threat of terrorism to the forefront of the European security agenda.
“Over the past 12 months, ISIL (the Islamic State, or ISIS) has expanded its operations throughout {Europe}, formally declaring an expansion of its self-declared ‘caliphate’ into the Caucasus while conducting multiple attacks across the region,” testified General Philip Breedlove, Commander of U.S. European Command during his appearance before the House Armed Services Committee last week.
The deadly terrorist attacks in Paris last year—against the Charlie Hebdo headquarters and a kosher supermarket in January and multiple sights throughout the city in November—demonstrate just how much of a danger radicalized individuals pose to the European continent. “From Paris to Copenhagen, Belgium to Turkey and the Caucuses, ISIL and Al-Qaida inspired terrorists have conducted attacks that tear apart the fabric of free and democratic societies,” stated General Breedlove.
A couple of key factors have influenced the rise in European terrorism. First, an estimated 5,000 plus European citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join extremist groups such as ISIS. Militarized and indoctrinated, these individuals possess the necessary documentation to return to Europe and pose a substantial danger to their home countries.
Second, is the recent influx of refugees into Europe amongst whom terrorists can embed themselves in order to gain access to European population centers. Prior to this mass refugee crisis, several European cities, such as Paris, already housed pockets of disenfranchised youths from immigrant families who suffer from low socioeconomic standing and who are especially susceptible to indoctrination. The arrival of numerous refugees puts an additional strain on these communities, creating a toxic environment that could foment an uptick in radicalization and possibly terrorism.
While the European Union has taken important steps to implement a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy, the responsibility ultimately lies with individual countries. “Member States are the key actors in counterterrorism - the EU is playing a supporting role,” explained EU Counterterrorism Coordinator Gilles De Kerchove to The Cipher Brief.
However, there is still a need for increased cooperation between the EU and European countries. While several European governments maintain highly capable intelligence units, the lack of an effective, overarching information sharing body has hampered Europe-wide counterterrorism efforts.
“The Paris attacks demonstrated the urgency of strengthening information sharing, notably the need for the systematic entry of data on foreign terrorist fighters into the Schengen Information System, increased sharing of criminal records data, and sharing information in the context of Europol,” stated De Kerchove.
In addition, The Cipher Brief experts agree that enhanced cooperation between the EU and the U.S. is paramount for combatting terrorist threats on both sides of the Atlantic. Mitch Silber, former Director of Analysis at the NYPD, suggested that “American law enforcement and intelligence professionals ought to spend more time in Europe, specifically in the areas where populations have not integrated, to better understand from local officials how the radicalization process is evolving.”
To successfully counter terrorist threats, ties between Europe and the U.S. must remain strong; and they will, according to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. “European countries will remain active and steadfast allies on the range of national security threats that face both the United States and Europe—from energy and climate change to countering violent extremism and promoting democracy,” wrote Clapper in his 2016 World Wide Threat Assessment. As both Europe and the U.S. stand united in their battle against terrorism, robust coordination is essential for ensuring the safety of their citizens.
Bennett Seftel is the Deputy Director of Editorial at The Cipher Brief.
