According to Gilles De Kerchove, Counter-terrorism Coordinator for the European Union, effective cooperation and coordination between EU member states and the United States is critical for combatting terrorist threats. The terrorist attacks in Paris last November also demonstrated a need for increased information sharing amongst European countries through Europol systems, explained De Kerchove.
The Cipher Brief: Where do you see the terrorist threat in Europe headed in the next six months or a year?
Gilles De Kerchove: In the short to medium term, Europe will continue to face a high threat from terrorism. There are essentially three main factors behind this. The first is returnees. Due to military pressure on DAESH (ISIS or the Islamic State) from the anti-ISIL coalition and the group losing ground in Syria and Iraq, we are likely to see an increase in the number of foreign terrorist fighters returning to their home countries in Europe.
The second factor is the possible movement of DAESH's senior leadership into Libya. Libya currently provides the perfect, chaotic operating environment for DAESH and the group clearly wants to establish a base there.
The final factor is the home-grown or lone wolf threat, that is from individuals who may have been radicalised, for example online, and who might seek to carry out a terrorist attack. Due to DAESH's formidable command of social media, there is an unprecedented threat of attacks from individuals who were not previously on the radar of security agencies.
TCB: What impact did the Paris attacks have on the EU’s approach to counterterrorism? What more can be done to mitigate the ISIS threat?
GDK: The Paris attacks have reinforced Member States' determination to work together in countering the threat from Islamic extremism and terrorist groups. In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks last January, the EU agreed to an ambitious approach, which combined both a drive to improve internal security measures across the EU with reinforced engagement with partners across the Middle East, north Africa, and the Balkans.
We are now advancing on three main fronts: First, ensuring the security of our citizens through actions, such as increased information sharing and strengthening checks at the EU's external borders; second, preventing radicalization and safeguarding values, for example through enhanced monitoring and removal of online terrorist content, development of counter-narrative, and mobilizing also "soft" policies in the fields of education, and integration and inter-cultural dialogue; and third, building on our existing cooperation with international partners, through the development of new capacity building and partnership programs.
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. Outside of the EU context, Member State security services have agreed to step up their effort to share more information through the Counter-Terrorism Group.
TCB: How can individual European countries cooperate more effectively to combat terrorism? In your view, what are the key obstacles preventing European governments from doing so?
GDK: Member States are the key actors in counterterrorism - the EU is playing a supporting role. However, Member States recognise that the EU can add significant value, not least through effective use of EU agencies such as Europol, Eurojust, Frontex, and the European Police College CEPOL. Member States are cooperating effectively through these agencies by sharing more information on suspected foreign terrorist fighters through Europol systems and by coordinating investigations and sharing experiences and information through Eurojust. However, there is always room to improve. I believe that through increased data sharing, via databases such as the Schengen Information System, Member States will enhance Europe's security.
TCB: What about cooperation between the U.S. and EU? How can the U.S. and the EU more effectively work together to combat the terrorist threat?
GDK: The EU and U.S. already work together very closely on counterterrorism. A whole range of transatlantic tools have been developed, such as the EU-U.S. Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme, which has produced many leads in the counterterrorism context; the EU-U.S. Passenger Name Record agreement; the EU-U.S. Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition agreement. The EU has liaison officers at Europol and Eurojust. Transatlantic information sharing, in full respect of data protection and privacy, is crucial in the fight against terrorism. The EU and the U.S. also hold regular consultations on current terrorist threats.
TCB: In your view, what’s the biggest difference between the European and American approach to counterterrorism? What can the U.S. learn from the EU and vice versa?
GDK: The EU and U.S. approaches shouldn't be seen as different, rather complementary. The EU and U.S. face the same threat - we are both facing an unprecedented terrorist threat. Hence, in recent years, the U.S. authorities and EU agencies have been working in close collaboration. Together the EU and U.S. work on the areas set out above, as well as the financing of terrorism, transport security, external borders, and police and judicial cooperation. Prevention of radicalization and countering violent extremism is a priority for both the EU and the U.S. There is also a clear requirement to combat this form of terrorism in a multidimensional and comprehensive approach. The EU and the U.S. are also active multilaterally, for example in the context of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum and the UN, as well as various working groups of the anti-ISIL coalition.
After 9/11, EU and U.S. approaches to terrorism diverged: The U.S. had taken a "war against al Qaeda" approach, while the EU promoted a law enforcement and criminal justice approach outside of specific armed conflicts, such as Afghanistan. Since early 2006, EU and U.S. legal advisors have conducted a regular dialogue on the international law aspects of the fight against terrorism. Since 9/11, the U.S. approach has evolved considerably. Another important issue of transatlantic discussion has been data protection and privacy.
Overall, the approach to counterterrorism today is similar on both sides of the Atlantic. We are benefitting from close cooperation and learning from each other's experiences.
