Signature of the Additional Protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism
On 26 May, on the occasion of the “International Conference on Terrorism and violent extremism: the radicalisation of youth”, organised by the Council of Europe, EU Ambassador Vesna Kos signed the Additional Protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism on behalf of the EU. The Protocol that marked a historic step towards a common pan-European definition of “terrorist offences”, was also signed by 10 Council of Europe Member States including 5 EU Member States (Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden) as well as Monaco, Montenegro, Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine.
Terrorism remains one of the most serious threats to international peace, security, and the well-being of citizens in Europe and globally. Addressing it requires coordinated action at both national and international levels. In this context, the Protocol introduces a pan-European legal definition of terrorist offences, defining what constitutes terrorism among Council of Europe States. This is the first agreement on a common definition of terrorism at regional level, making it a historical moment for global counter-terrorism efforts. Once in force, the Protocol will serve as a strong baseline for the regional prevention of terrorism efforts, as well as for international cooperation. A harmonised definition will enhance judicial cooperation by facilitating the issuance of mutual legal assistance and extradition requests for terrorism cases among Council of Europe members that become Parties to both the Protocol and the Convention.