http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee 258 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies Núm. 10 / 2017 Mention must be made of the approval in March 2016 of the proposal for a Directive on Combating Terrorism with the key aim of aligning the definition of terrorist offences, as well as offences related with a terrorist group, including activities of a terrorist nature associated mainly with foreign terrorist fighters and terrorist financing, which are also punishable offences if committed on the internet and social networks96. Nonetheless, it is underscored that irrespective of the principal target being foreign terrorist fighters, the threat posed by terrorists who act single-handedly, the lone wolves, and by foiled terrorist travellers whose passports were confiscated at national borders, should not be underestimated97. As regards what has been mentioned above and relating to the difficulties faced by Member States when they try to prosecute those who do not necessarily belong to a terrorist group, the proposal for a Directive responds here by classifying as an offence the act of belonging to a structured terrorist organisation, whereby this is “not randomly formed for the immediate commission of an offence and that does not need to have formally defined roles for its members, continuity of its membership or a developed structure”98. Likewise, one aspect that is viewed as particularly relevant is the incorporation of a series of connected measures such as the identification, interrogation and police supervision of returned foreign fighters, as well as the systematic exchange of information about them that should be shared with the Europol’s European Anti-Terrorism Centre and with other Member States via the Schengen Information System99. Combatting the funding of terrorism The fight against the funding of terrorism forms a decisive aspect in the combatting of global terrorism100 and consequently the European Agenda on Security sets out a 96 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating terrorism and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA on combating terrorism first reading. Brussels, 3 March 2016 (OR. en) 6655/16. 97 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating terrorism and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA on combating terrorism. Brussels, 2.12.2015, COM(2015) 625 final, p. 3. 98 Art.2. letter d), Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating terrorism and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA on combating terrorism. Brussels, 2.12.2015 COM(2015) 625 final. 99 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council: Delivering on the European Agenda on Security to fight against terrorism and pave the way towards an effective and genuine Security Union. Brussels, 20.4.2016, COM(2016) 230 final, p. 6. 100 Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 of the Council of 27 December 2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism (OJEU L334, de 28.12. 2001), Recital 2.
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