The European Union's perspective on terrorism in the framework of TE-SAT reports

Terrorism, as a phenomenon, is as old as human history. With the terrorist attacks on September 11 (9/11), 2001 against the World Trade Center (WTC) and the Pentagon building, terrorism has gained a global dimension. Since the 1960s and 1970s, this phenomenon has started to pose as a threat to both Europe and the European Union (EU). This phenomenon still exists today as a global threat for all mankind. Before the 9/11, the EU and its member states were not well prepared for terrorism threats. However, after 1990s, with the aim of ensuring co-operation and coordination between EU's member states about terrorism, European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), was established in 1994 by EU and this Agency became fully operational in 1999. Since then, Europol has become one of the most operational institutions in the EU's fight against terrorism. After the terrorist attacks in Madrid (2004) and London (2005), the EU has had to confront new, potential, and global terrorist threats. In order to overcome such threats, the EU, has developed several strategies, programs, plans and documents as a tool. One of the main tools for EU's counter-terrorism policies has been "EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Reports (TE-SAT Reports)" which have been published by Europol since 2007. The aim of this Master's Thesis is to reveal the terrorism perspective of the EU within the framework of TE-SAT Reports. These Reports consist of qualitative and quantitative data which has been provided by EU member states and other related actors to show EU's annually terrorism situation and trends. The key role of these Reports in the fight against terrorism is that they reflect Europol's function of coordination and cooperation in the EU's counter-terrorism policies.