In January 2016, Europol created the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC), an operations centre and hub of expertise that reflects the growing need for the EU to strengthen its response to terrorism and to ensure an effective response to these challenges.
The ECTC was established in the wake of the series of terrorist attacks that shook Europe in 2015. These attacks resulted in an unprecedented boost in cooperation between EU Member States and partners and led to the creation of a dedicated counter terrorism centre at Europol. The ECTC represents a cornerstone in EU-level cooperation in national counter terrorism efforts, and is the first centre of its kind to be created as part of the EU’s counter terrorism security policy.
The ECTC’s experience and expertise in all areas of terrorist phenomena aims to provide a comprehensive response to the constantly changing threat of terrorism in the EU. In light of this, the ECTC has extended its support in recent years to EU Member States and external partners in dealing with violent left-wing and right-wing extremism, as well as religiously motivated terrorism.
To enhance the capabilities of counter terrorism authorities, the ECTC creates and develops tools to address emerging counter terrorism needs. The ECTC also facilitates the connection of competent authorities in EU Member States through Europol’s counter terrorism platforms, an invaluable contribution to the fight against terrorism.
Key objectives
The ECTC functions as Europol’s information hub for counter terrorism, with unique information and intelligence sharing capabilities for law enforcement authorities in EU Member States and beyond. The ECTC cross-checks live operational data against the data Europol already has, quickly bringing leads to light, and analyses all available investigative details to assist in compiling a structured picture of the terrorist network.
The main task of ECTC is to provide tailor-made operational support to EU Member States’ counter terrorism authorities. To fulfil this task, the ECTC has developed a four-pillar approach:
- Facilitation of information exchange and cross-border cooperation;
- Effective operational support, coordination and expertise for EU Member States’ investigations;
- Proactive mitigation of the use of social media for radicalisation purposes and support for operational analysis in online investigations;
- Central strategic support capability.
Key services provided by ECTC include:
- on-the-spot support– deployment of operational teams;
- operational analytical support;
- detection of terrorism financing;
- support for EU member states’ online investigations;
- providing CBRN-E expertise;
- crisis response through the counter terrorism joint liaison team;
- deployment of guest officers at migration hotspots;
- access to European cybercrime centre technologies and expertise.
Operational highlights and key outputs
Each year, the ECTC publishes the EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TESAT), its comprehensive situation report, which details the terrorism situation including figures regarding terrorist attacks and arrests in the EU.
Structure
The Expertise and Stakeholder Management Unit provides central strategic support to identify Europe-wide counter terrorism implications and to promote outreach with relevant (international) partners. The CBRN & Explosives Team in the unit supports the EU Member States in the area of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) and explosives.
The dedicated teams of counter terrorism specialists and analysts within the Operations Unit are available to deliver operational analysis to support the investigations conducted by the competent authorities of EU Member States and non-EU partners.
The EU Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) coordinates EU efforts to tackle access to online terrorist propaganda and delivers operational online support for counter terrorism cases.
Since 2019, the ATLAS Network of Special Intervention Units has been affiliated with Europol. The ECTC hosts the ATLAS Support Office, which pursues the establishment of links between ATLAS and Europol’s counter terrorism and serious and organised crime communities, and facilitates the exchange of strategic and operational expertise and practices.
The ECTC has 84 staff members and 13 seconded national experts (January 2022).
Working together
To improve the speed and quality of counter terrorism cooperation among the competent authorities, the ECTC hosts the Counter Terrorism Joint Liaison Team (CT JLT). It serves as a platform for the swift exchange of operational information and actionable intelligence among counter terrorism experts and analysts from the EU Member States, associated non-EU countries, and the ECTC. The CT JLT provides a trusted environment, in which information can be shared swiftly, securely, efficiently and effectively. The CT JLT also analyses the wider European and international dimensions of the terrorist threat, in particular by identifying new lines of investigation, including, but not limited to, flows of terrorist financing and illegal firearms.
The CT Program Board (CTPB) was founded in 2017 and serves as the Member States’ steering governance tool for the ECTC. It aims to streamline and combine efforts for an enhanced and effective fight against international terrorism.
Tags
- Law Enforcement
- Taskforce
ECTC Updates
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