http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee 244 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies Núm. 10 / 2017 Since the terrorist threat is constantly evolving, the priorities set out by the EU for the upcoming years in the field of internal security aim to tackle and prevent terrorism, radicalisation towards terrorism and also the recruitment of new fighters. As part of all this, it is of note that preventive action plays an essential role, which demands greater cooperation both at operational level and also with respect to the implementation of awareness-raising policies regarding radicalisation. Another EU priority is that of putting a stop to the financing of terrorism, which entails a series of measures to freeze financial assets as well as launching action plans on explosives and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear substances and a policy for the extraction and analysis of financial messaging data within the EU. Nonetheless, given the modus operandi of the latest attacks, particular attention shall have to be paid to the so-called foreign fighters, to reinforcing security at borders via systematic and coordinated checks, as well as the security and protection of means of transport20. We thus observe that the array of legal instruments created in the EU is perhaps excessively wide, hence the obvious need for an EU Global Strategy for counter-terrorism measures. Operational Framework: Exchange of information and operational cooperation The security of the European Union is underpinned by a series of effective mechanisms for the exchange of information between national authorities and other European agents21 – an exchange which unfortunately is not yet free of obstacles that hinder the intensification of operational cooperation. This is evidenced by the four areas of immediate priority for the EU’s combatting of terrorism, including the necessity to intensify the exchange of information and operational cooperation as well as the reinforced application of the Schengen framework, boosting notification capacity for internet content and the fight against the illicit trade of firearms22. Just as has been previously mentioned, the European Union today faces a constant and ever-changing terrorist threat in terms of the last decade23 and it is a trend that hits the core of Europe, and in particular its states, as it is the latter that bear the European renewal in the field of Freedom, Security and Justice. COM (2005) 184 final. OJEU, C 236, 24.9.2005. 20 Draft Council Conclusions on the Renewed European Union Internal Security Strategy 2015- 2020, Doc. 9798/15, p. 6 and The EU Internal Security Strategy in Action: Five steps towards a more secure Europe, COM 2010, 673 final of 22.11.2010, p. 7 et seq. 21 Communication from the European Commission of 10 June 2009, An area of freedom, security and justice serving the citizen (COM(2009)262), p. 16, para 4.1.2. Controlling information. 22 Justice and Home Affairs Council of 12 March 2015, Doc. 6891/15 and Council of the European Union: Draft Report to the European Parliament and national Parliaments on the proceedings of the Standing Committee on operational cooperation on internal security for the period July 2014 - December 2015. Doc. 5299/2/16 REV 2, p. 9 23 European Parliament resolution on anti-terrorism measures (2015/2530(RSP)), Recital B.
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