The special committee will examine and evaluate the extent of the terrorist threat on European soil and look into any potential faults and malfunctions which might have allowed recent terrorist attacks in member states to occur .

The committee is in particular charged with looking into:

the implementation of existing measures in the field of external border management

deficiencies in sharing judicial, law enforcement and intelligence information among member states

the interoperability of European information-sharing databases

the impact of EU anti-terror laws on fundamental rights

radicalisation and the effectiveness of de-radicalisation programmes

money laundering and terrorism financing, including its links to organised crime

best practice with regard to the protection of soft targets and critical infrastructure, such as airports and train stations

Quick Facts

30 MEPs will sit on the special committee and its mandate will run for 12 months, which can be prolonged, starting from the date of its constitutive meeting. The committee is to deliver a mid-term and a final report containing factual findings and recommendations.

The committee will make visits and hold hearings with other EU institutions, the relevant agencies, national parliaments and governments of member states and non-EU countries, law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, judges and magistrates as well as victims’ organisations. Due to the sensitive nature of the information being handled, it is expected that some meetings might be held behind closed doors

The mandate was adopted by 527 votes to 73, with 36 abstentions.