EESC opinion: Civil society participation in the fight against organised crime and terrorism

Key points:

Civil society plays a fundamental role in promoting the values of the rule of law and making an active contribution to democracy. Civil society organisations in Europe are carrying out very positive work in society, promoting active European citizenship and a participatory democracy. However, these organisations cannot and must not replace the national and European authorities in operational policies.

The EESC cannot accept that terrorists and criminals should be able to escape justice due to the EU's internal borders hindering police or judicial action. The EESC urges the EU institutions and Member States to draw up and implement a common strategy against terrorism and to abandon the current situation of decision-making "on the fly".

The EESC believes that the current situation of mere intergovernmental cooperation is for the most part inadequate and often inefficient.

The EESC supports the Commission's proposal to set up a European platform for public-private partnership and believes it essential that it secures the means to gain maximum benefit from public-private cooperation between the Member States and between the EU and Member States.