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"Countering Hybrid Threats", Connected Contested World, Foreign Fighters: Risk Indicators, Smart Borders, Migration and development, and Discrimination Directive
EU: Council of the European Union: LIMITE documents
"Countering Hybrid Threats", Connected Contested World, Foreign Fighters: Risk Indicators, Smart Borders, Migration and development, and Discrimination Directive
01 June 2015
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European External Action Service (EEAS): To: Political and Security Committee (PSC): Subject: Food-for-thought paper "Countering Hybrid Threats" (LIMITE doc no: 8887-15, pdf)
"Hybrid warfare can be more easily characterised than defined as a centrally designed and controlled use of various covert and overt tactics, enacted by military and/or non-military means, ranging from intelligence and cyber operations through economic pressure to the use of conventional forces.
By employing hybrid tactics, the attacker seeks to undermine and destabilise an opponent by applying both coercive and subversive methods. The latter can include various forms of sabotage, disruption of communications and other services including energy supplies. The aggressor may work through or by empowering proxy insurgent groups, or disguising state-to-state aggression behind the mantle of a "humanitarian intervention"." [emphasis added]
The EEAS describes itself as a "virtual fusion cell" which "could catalyse all indicators from the EEAS services, including EU Delegations and the COMMISSION services, and other key partners – both countries and organisations, such as NATO... The EEAS provides the natural focus for this intelligence led work..... By denying
or distorting facts, populations can be easily manipulated, politicians dissuaded."
• EEAS:
The EU in a Changing Global Environment - A more connected, contested and complex world (LIMITE doc no: 8956-15, pdf)
"Europe too is more contested, as growing forces in Europe criticise, and at times oppose, the European project. Yet a more contested Europe can also spur decision-makers to better connect foreign policy with citizens’ expectations and inject momentum in the European debate through generational change....
Fragile states and ungoverned spaces are spreading. To the east, the EU’s neighbours suffer from economic, political and energy fragilities. Across the Mediterranean, the spread of ungoverned spaces has enabled criminals, extremists and terrorists to thrive. Further south, instability and violence are the product of underdevelopment, lawlessness, corruption and conflict-ridden electoral politics - with more than 50 million people displaced."
•
Foreign Terrorist Fighters: - Application of the Schengen Border Code - Follow-up - Update on progress on the preparation of risk indicators (LIMITE doc no: 8741-15, pdf)
"In the context of the Riga Joint Statement, Ministers concluded regarding Schengen framework as follows: We consider that beyond the current efforts to make full use of existing Schengen framework, a targeted proposal to amend the Schengen Borders Code is a necessary step to reinforce external borders by making it possible to proceed to systematic checks on individuals enjoying the right of free movement against databases relevant to the fight against terrorism based on the common risk indicators......
There is currently no agreement among Member States as to the need of carrying out systematic checks on documents (only one carries out such checks and eleven have declared that they are ready to do so). Those which have concerns have invoked technical/practical/economic) concerns.”
See also:
Foreign Fighters: Application of the Schengen Border Code – Follow-up (LIMITE doc on: 16880-14, pdf)
• Including SMART BORDERS:
Working Party on Frontiers/Mixed Committee: Outcomes:Smart Borders Package, Biometric data in large IT databases in the area of borders, visa and asylum, Foreign Terrorist Fighters (LIMITE doc no: 8964-15, pdf)
• EEAS:
Migration in development cooperation - Issues Paper (LIMITE doc no: 9118-15, pdf)
"The answer to many of the challenges in the field of migration lies in the relations with third countries. Partnership with countries of origin and transit is thus crucial and the EU has established dedicated bilateral and regional migration dialogues with all of the most important regions concerned....
EU efforts on fostering diaspora engagement is continuing, in particular on capacity building for government authorities and diaspora associations in developing
appropriate policies and programmes to maximise the development contribution of their diaspora."
•
Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (LIMITE doc no: 8679-15, pdf). Council developing its negotiating position - with 30 Member State positions.