News Releases

No. 89/06
October 13, 2006

EU BOOSTS FUNDING FOR RESEARCH TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM TERRORIST ATTACKS

Recent terrorist events in the UK and Germany are a stark reminder of the threats posed to European transport systems. To improve the security of EU citizens, the European Commission has decided to fund research to improve the detection of explosives, including liquids, at airports. This is one of 15 new security research projects that also include improving the protection of drinking water supply against bio-chemical terrorism, urgently needed interoperability and standards for border security and finding new methods to prevent money laundering/financing of terrorist organizations.

European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen responsible for Enterprise and Industry policies, said: “The Commission is determined to do its part to better protect our citizens and fund EU wide targeted research efforts. A strong European security research program will also enhance Europe's competitive edge in many areas.”

Responding to the increasing security concerns, security research will now become an integral part of the EU's latest Research Framework Program where it will receive an average annual budget of €200 million. The 15 selected proposals aim to define both the required technological solutions and the supporting operational concepts. The new projects and supporting activities are selected under the third and last year of the "Preparatory Action for Security Research" (PASR). The total budget earmarked under this 2004-2006 scheme is €45 million for 39 projects and studies addressing a variety of issues to improve civil population security.

To prepare the larger program, the European Commission assembled the "European Security Research Advisory Board" (ESRAB). Composed of private and public security stakeholders including industry, academia, police forces, border guards and crisis management teams/first responders, the group advises the Commission on how research should contribute efficiently to citizen's security. While the development and demonstration of new technologies and systems are to be sponsored, security research activities also include societal topics such as acceptability of security solutions or respect of civil liberties and privacy.

Background

The Preparatory Action on "Enhancement of the European industrial potential in the field of Security Research 2004-2006" (PASR) focuses in particular on the development of a European security research agenda to bridge the gap between civil research, as supported by European Commission Framework Programs, and national and intergovernmental security research initiatives. Given the increasing importance of security concerns and, in light of the successful implementation of the PASR, Security Research will be integral part of the 7th RTD Framework Program (2007-2013) – FP7, with a total budget of about €1.35 billion.

From June 12 until 16, 2005, a large panel of independent experts evaluated the third call for proposals of the PASR action. With 165 proposals submitted the response to this call was again overwhelming. With an available budget of €15 Million, 15 proposals - 8 technology projects and 7 supporting activities - were selected.

Main topics addressed by the 8 selected projects are: detection of explosives and biological agents, management tools for humanitarian and rescue operations, protection of drinking water network against chemical or biological terrorist attack, tracking system for identification of financial transactions linked to crime or terrorist activities, wireless communication network for emergency and security end-users.

The selected supporting activities are complementary, covering some specific fields related to coordination security network, involvement of SMEs, human behavior and standardization.

Only two years after the latest EU enlargement, it is encouraging recording the participation of entities from all 25 EU Member States.

EU & Counterterrorism

Further Contact Information
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