EU security policy debate one year after Brussels terrorist attacks, 15.00 today

Source: European Parliament (EP) i, published on Wednesday, March 15 2017, 14:00.

MEPs will debate progress on the European security agenda since the 22 March 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels with EU Commissioners Dimitris Avramopoulos and Sir Julian King, and Maltese Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg for the Council Presidency, on Wednesday at 15.00. Enhancing information sharing, combatting terrorism financing, preventing radicalisation and strengthening controls at the EU’s external borders are key priorities.

In the past year, the EU has approved, inter alia, a directive on the use of Passenger Name Records (PNR - which should help to trace terrorists), updated rules on counter-terrorism measures and new requirements to check everyone crossing EU external borders as well as new rules on Europol to allow the agency to respond faster to terrorist threats.

Further initiatives in the pipeline include reviewing the Schengen Information System and the European Criminal Records Information System and establishing a new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to pre-screen travelers entering the EU visa free.

In September 2016, Sir Julian King was appointed as Commissioner for Security Union, a newly created portfolio.

You can watch the plenary debate live via and EbS+.

Topical debates

Parliament's new Rules of Procedure (rule 153) provide for one debate of 60-90 minutes at each part-session on a topical matter, proposed by one political group, of major interest to EU policy. Each group has the right to propose at least one such debate.

REF. : 20170309IPR65847

Updated: ( 15-03-2017 - 12:32)