Human factor for the prevention, investigation, and mitigation of criminal and terrorist acts

The European Union (EU) consists of more than 500 million people across the twenty-eight countries which make up the Union. Economic growth, together with the opportunities provided by a free and democratic society based on the rule of law, generate prosperity amongst Europe's citizens who benefit from increased mobility across national borders, and from globalized communication and finance infrastructure – but with such opportunities also come risks, as terrorists and criminals seek to pursue destructive and malicious ends. There are a number of significant common threats which have a cross-border impact on security and safety within the EU[1], and security has become a key factor in ensuring a high quality of life in the European society and in protecting our critical infrastructures through preventing and tackling common threats. The European Union must prevent, and if necessary investigate and mitigate the impact of criminal acts, whilst protecting fundamental rights of its citizens. The consistent efforts made by the EU Member States and the Union to that effect are not enough, especially when criminal groups and their activities expand far beyond national borders.

Scope

The Lisbon Treaty enables the EU to act to develop Europe as an area of justice, freedom and security. The new European Agenda on Security underlines that, an EU-wide approach to security, integrating prevention, investigation and mitigation capabilities in the area of fight against crime is increasingly required.

The definition of a European Security Model which builds upon the analysis of the human factors[2], at the roots of the design of security strategies and methodologies, is needed. Such a Model would encompass: the development of a common understanding of security issues among EU security practitioners, as well as of the causes and effects of insecurity among EU citizens; common EU methodologies to be implemented by security practitioners (about enhancing prevention and anticipation and/or the timely involvement of all the actors that have a role in protection from the political, economic and social scene).

The globalization of communications and finance infrastructure allows for cybercrime to develop, and corruption and financial crime to take new forms. Cyber criminality is a phenomenon by which criminal acts with new tools and within a new environment, which is not satisfactorily understood, nor properly addressed. The same applies to the innovative technologies and methodologies for financial crime. Law Enforcement Agencies need new equipment to counter such developments.

Proposals should address only one of the following aspects:

Sub-topic 1.New methods for the protection of crowds during mass gatherings;

Sub-topic 2.New methods to prevent, investigate and mitigate cybercriminal behaviours;

Sub-topic 3.New methods to prevent, investigate and mitigate corruption and financial crime to fight the infiltration of organised crime in the European Union (licit) economy;

Sub-topic 4.New methods to prevent, investigate and mitigate high impact petty crimes;

Sub-topic 5.New methods to prevent, investigate and mitigate high impact domestic violence.

Only the sub-topics not covered in 2016 will remain eligible in 2017. A list of topics that remain eligible in 2017 will be published in due time in the section "Topic Conditions & Documents" for this topic on the Participant Portal

In line with the EU's strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation[3] international cooperation is encouraged, and in particular with international research partners involved in ongoing discussions and workshops, with the European Commission. Legal entities established in countries not listed in General Annex A and international organisations will be eligible for funding only when the Commission deems participation of the entity essential for carrying out the action.

Indicative budget: The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of € 3million would allow for this topic to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected Impact

The EU law enforcement agencies will benefit from improving and consolidating knowledge about security problems and their remedies.

In detail, and for each sub-topic:

• A policy-making toolkit, for security policy-makers, to advance towards a future European Security Model applicable by European law enforcement agencies and/or
• Common approaches, for the long-term, for assessing risks/threats and identifying relevant risk-based security measures, including through acceptance tests (that take due account of legal and ethical rules of operation) and cost-benefit considerations and/or
• Complementing the relevant work of Eurobarometer, better understanding of how the citizens perceive security and how it affects their feeling of insecurity, and in connection with potential limitations to, or risks of violations of privacy, and the consequent challenges for LEAs;
• Toolkits for law enforcement agencies, based and validated against the needs and requirements expressed by practitioners, and improving the perception by the citizens that Europe is an area of freedom, justice and security.

The societal dimension of fight against crime and terrorism must be at the core of the activities proposed within this topic.

[1]European Agenda for Security COM(2015) 185 final

[2]Includes societal factors.

[3]COM(2012)497