Internal Security Strategy (ISS)

The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (in particular Article 72), which entered into force in 2009, along with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, laid the foundations for the development of an EU security policy based on the rule of law, respect for fundamental rights and solidarity.

Following the adoption of the Stockholm programme (the EU’s programme for justice and home affairs for the 2010-2014 period), in 2010 the EU adopted its internal security strategy (ISS). Given that many security challenges (cybercrime, terrorism, illegal immigration and organised crime) are cross-border and cross-sectoral in nature, no single EU Member State is able to respond effectively to these threats on its own. In addition, the EU needed to improve its resilience to crises and disasters. The ISS was the EU's joint agenda to use all the resources and expertise available to tackle these challenges.

This was followed, in 2015, by the European agenda on security 2015-2020, which, in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris that year, placed considerable emphasis on addressing the issues of terrorism and radicalisation, international organised crime and cybercrime.

In 2020, the EU set out its main priorities for the 2020-2025 period in its EU security union strategy. The strategy sets out four strategic EU-level priorities:

ensuring a future-proof security environment for individuals and ensuring safe and resilient critical infrastructures;
tackling evolving threats, such as cybercrime, illegal online content and hybrid threats;
protecting Europeans from terrorism and organised crime, including developing action plans against migrant smuggling, drugs and firearms trafficking;
developing a strong European security ecosystem by combating crime and promoting justice by closer cooperation and information sharing.

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Internal Security Strategy (ISS)