EC to toughen sanctions on European fighters fighting abroad

According to a VNA reporter in Belgium, at a recent plenary session of the European Parliament (EP), the European Commission (EC) announced a strategy until 2020 on strengthening the fight against terrorism, cybercrime and organized crime.

This is one of the 10 priority tasks that EC President Jean-Claude Juncker has set out during his term.

IS militants are increasingly rampant. Source: theregister

EC Vice President Frans Timmermans affirmed that no member state can fight terrorism, cybercrime and organized crime alone, so the EC's plan to deploy actions, prepare budgets and laws is to deal with the above three challenges.

According to the plan, the EC focuses on implementing the exchange and sharing of information between EU member states, as well as between European institutions and existing information systems such as the Schengen Information System (SIS), the Schengen Control Act, and the Criminal Offenders Database (Ecris).

The EC plans to set up a European counter-terrorism centre to enable Europol to work more effectively in coordinating information in cross-border terrorism-related investigations.

In addition, to adapt to new forms of terrorism, the EC will change its framework concept of terrorism to have more effective sanctions against European fighters fighting abroad.

The EC is setting up a clearinghouse for information on extremists and is calling on internet service providers to join in combating terrorist propaganda online.

The recent terrorist attacks in France and Denmark have shown that the fight against arms smuggling is also part of the fight against terrorism. Therefore, common regulations and better cooperation with third countries are needed in this fight.

The EC's proposals still have to be considered and approved by member states and the European Parliament.

According to Vietnam+