http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee 240 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies Núm. 10 / 2017 MEASURES AND REGULATORY CHANGES WITHIN THE EURO-PEAN UNION TO STRENGTHEN THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM INTRODUCTION. MEASURES TO COUNTER GLOBAL TERRORISM Europe has experienced different types of terrorism over the course of its his-tory, which has meant that the EU has become a key actor in the fight against this scourge that threatens both its internal and external security. Terrorism in Europe is currently regarded as drawing its inspiration from a wider range of ideologies. These include nationalist and separatist ideologies, those inspired by Al- Qaeda and violent ideologies of the far left, anarchy and far right, meaning that Europe finds itself directly affected by the terrorist activity playing out at inter-national level1. Nonetheless, whilst other types of terrorism continue to present a serious threat to the citizens of the EU, the Union’s response to radicalisation and recruitment focuses on Jihadist terrorism2, as a form of global terrorism that acts with unbounded violence. In this respect, given the most recent terrorist attacks carried out in the EU, Eu-ropol has warned against the high threat level arising as a result of a fanatical minority operating from the Middle East in collaboration with people who were born in the EU itself and radicalised in a short space of time, who have shown themselves to be willing to act as facilitators and active accomplices to terrorist activities3. In order to provide a strong response to the major threats to the EU’s internal se-curity, i.e. terrorism, radicalisation, the recruitment and financing of terrorism, one must take into account the fact that internal and external security are increasingly intertwined, a circumstance that makes internal security dependent on peace beyond its borders4. Aware of this fact, over time the EU has set its counter-terrorism course, launching a series of Hard Responses and Soft Responses to create a real security structure both internally and externally. 1 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Preventing Radicalisation to Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Strengthening the EU’s Response. Brussels, 15.1.2014 COM(2013) 941 final, p.2. 2 The European Union Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism, Doc. 14781/1/05 REV1, p.2. 3 European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2016 (TE-SAT), p.5. 4 European Global Strategy, June 2016, p.7.
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