Although there is a vast body of literature covering the ongoing debates concerning the novelty and gravity of the contemporary terrorist threat, as well as the most appropriate response to it, few authors have thus far analysed the complex set of counterterrorism measures that both the individual Member States and the European Union (EU) have attempted to develop. This volume offers a critical analysis of the measures the European Union has taken to combat terrorism and how, in a number of key areas, EU counterterrorism policy is more of a paper tiger than an effective counterterrorism device. Several legal EU counterterrorism instruments have not been properly implemented at the national level and questions have been raised regarding their effectiveness, appropriateness, and proportionality. The capabilities of EU agencies in the area of counterterrorism remain rather weak and the EU Counterterrorism Coordinator does not have any real powers apart from persuasion. However, this does not mean that EU level action cannot offer any value-added in the fight against terrorism. There are several areas where the EU can provide genuine value-added in the fight against terrorism due to the transnational nature of the contemporary terrorist threat and the nature of a borderless Europe.
Biography
Dr. Oldrich Bures, Head of the Department of International Relations and European Studies, Head of the Center for Security Studies, Metropolitan University Prague, Czech Republic
'The first ever comprehensive treatment of EU counter-terrorism policy by a single author - and one that is unlikely to be surpassed very soon. Oldrich Bures provides a sobering, informed and nuanced account of the EU's attempts to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks and why leaders rhetoric and strategy documents have often not been matched by appropriate action. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in counter-terrorism or the EU as a growing provider of internal security.' Christoph O. Meyer, King's College London, UK '...a preponderance of convincing evidence to support a provocative argument that the EU has not lived up to its commitment to protect its citizens. This well-researched and timely book makes an extremely important empirical and theoretical contribution to counter-terrorism policy as well as the politics of EU security cooperation.' Lawrence P. Rubin, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA and Associate Editor, Terrorism and Political Violence 'Everything you need to know and more about the European Union’s role in counter-terrorism policy. Any serious scholar, whether student or expert, needs to become familiar with this thought-provoking work. Thanks to the rigour of the analysis, this work should also be read by practitioners in Brussels and the national capitals of the EU member states.' Christian Kaunert, University of Salford and Co-editor of Journal of Contemporary European Research, UK ...provides a comprehensive vision of EU counter-terrorism policy and thoroughly details its specificities. His honest observations on the genuine added-value of the key EU counter-terrorism instruments and actors should contribute to strengthen trust between national judiciaries. Hence the relevance of this book for the EU's criminal justice. Michèle Coninsx, Vice-President of Eurojust, National Member for Belgium and Chair of the Eurojust's Counter-Terrorism Team 'EU Counterterrorism Policy: A Paper Tiger? takes a hard look at recent
