Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace, security and well-being. As such, it also constitutes a major threat to the security of the approximately 820 million citizens of the member States of the Council of Europe.

European States have in recent years been the targets of several deadly terrorist attacks and many more attempts to carry out such attacks. The threat member States of the Council of Europe face is multi-dimensional – from returning foreign terrorist fighters from theatres of conflict to homegrown terrorists inspired or directed to harm societies. It is a rapidly evolving threat from plots outside and within the borders of the member States as well as online. In addition to the continued threat from totemic attacks on, for example, aviation, an increase in online terrorist propaganda and material has led to vulnerable individuals self-radicalising, inspired to attack using low-sophisticated but lethal means. Though terrorism has long existed in Europe, such a sustained threat level has already had a significant adverse impact on States. Terrorism, regardless of its ideological underpinnings, jeopardises human rights, threatens democracy, undermines the rule of law and aims at destabilising legitimately constituted governments. Terrorism and the threat of terrorism can sharpen social and political divisions, weakening a pluralistic civil society through intimidation and increased polarisation.

To confront current and future terrorist threats, the member States of the Council of Europe stand united to protect the fundamental values on which our democracies are based. Building upon its decades of work in this area, the Council of Europe will continue to play a significant role in the global and regional fight against terrorism, through both its intergovernmental co-operation mechanisms alongside standard-setting work in the form of international treaties or politically binding recommendations and guidelines.

In recent years the Council of Europe has developed a series of new legal and other standards on such issues as the criminal law response to foreign terrorist fighters, the use of special investigation techniques in terrorism cases and how to prevent attacks by “terrorists acting alone”. These standards, together with the already existing body of relevant conventions, recommendations and guidelines, form the basis for the Organisation’s current and future work in the field of counter-terrorism and prevention of radicalisation leading to terrorism.

The Council of Europe adds particular value to the regional and global efforts to prevent and suppress terrorism through its standard-setting activities, which aim at providing efficient human rights – and rule of law – compatible legal frameworks governing the co-operation between member States, but also through its other activities aimed at preventing radicalisation leading to terrorism and, more generally, the furthering of democracy. The Council of Europe will continue its efforts to promote its standards, both regionally and globally, in close co-operation and co-ordination with member States and other regional and global organisations, in particular the United Nations.

The establishment of the 24/7 Network for Exchange of Police Information regarding Foreign Terrorist Fighters in 2016 (based on Article 7 of the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism) is another example of an activity designed specifically to assist the day-to-day co-operation between member States. Assuring the proper functioning of the Network through regular assessments and the organisation of meetings between national contact points will remain a high priority for the Council of Europe now and in the years to come.

The Council of Europe recognises that member States have the primary responsibility for preventing and combating terrorism. To support these efforts, the Council of Europe works to promote international co-operation and co-ordination, to provide a platform to discuss and elaborate means to prevent and combat terrorism, and also ensure that all counter-terrorism measures accordingly respect human rights, the rule of law and democracy. This approach is vital in order to safeguard our basic values and help guarantee that action against terrorism is considered legitimate while also providing a truly effective bulwark against terrorism. Furthermore, the Council of Europe may provide a forum for public-private co-operation, where necessary and appropriate.