Europol opens new counter-terrorism center in The Hague

Europol today opens the new European Counter Terrorism Centre, which should play a central role in the exchange of information between EU Member States. The center must also ensure that coordinated action can be taken in the event of terrorist threats.

Plans for such a center have been in the works for some time, and have been given an impulse by the attacks in Paris, says European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos. Europol therefore refers explicitly to this event. The ECTC must prevent these kinds of new threats by stimulating the exchange of information between the various EU Member States.

Use should be made of existing databases and tools, such as the Europol Information System and the siena system. At some point, direct access to the PNR database will also have to be added, with which the flight data of European citizens can be stored. The proposal for this system was agreed on 2 December and the European Parliament will vote on it shortly.

The center will also take on support and coordination tasks under the direction of Manuel Navarrete Paniagua, a senior officer of the Spanish police.