Small states and the EU counter-terrorism policy

Abstract

The European Counter-Terrorism Policy (ECTP) consists of several policies created to target all forms of terrorism. These are constantly being reviewed to ensure the inclusion of new threats and coherence in implementation. Elements of the ECTP are not new; that is, certain EU institutions which address terrorism have had similar policies for decades. However, following the September 11 attacks, the EU started to take counter-terrorism more seriously. These and other acts of terrorism brought about the basis of today’s ECTP. Many of the studies conducted on the ECTP focus almost exclusively on large EU member states. This study, in contrast, focuses on the extent to which small states within the EU have implemented the ECTP. Small states are not all the same and any generalization may be flawed. Since it is difficult to look at every single small state in Europe, three small states—Malta, Cyprus, and Lithuania—were selected as the objects of this study. These three all became members of the EU in 2004 but were intentionally chosen because they have different geographical and political characteristics. This study concluded that there are multiple factors that determine as to what extent small states adopt the ECTP. For example, their geographical location can influence their political affiliation and consequently their counter-terrorism measures. Small states, like others, may have a history of conflict with neighbouring countries, and this also influences the way they implement the ECTP. In addition, some issues are individual to each country and the EU might not have policies set in place specifically to target these issues. As a result, such states choose to implement their own national policies.