The ATLAS network is an association of law enforcement special intervention units from the 27 Member States of the European Union and associated countries. It was established following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, on the initiative of the European Police Chiefs Task Force (EPCTF).[1][2] Together, these top-tier units maintain a constant state of readiness, poised to respond to any security crisis in Europe at any time.[3]

ATLAS
Formation2001[1]
Legal statusTransnational Organization
PurposePolice tactical unit co-operation
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Region served
Europe
Main organ
Various Committees
Parent organization
European Union

History

edit

ATLAS was initially informally established for information exchange and training activities co-operation between units. It was later formalised by a decision of the Council of the European Union in 2008, which also expanded ATLAS's functions to include the provision of assistance upon request to another Member State.[1][2][4]

In 2018, an ATLAS Support Office was established within Europol's European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) in The Hague, Netherlands, thereby strengthening the role of the ATLAS Network within European law enforcement organisations.[5]

Terms

edit

ATLAS uses the terms 'special intervention unit' and 'crisis situation' defined as follows:

  • 'Special intervention unit' refers to any law enforcement unit of a Member State that is specialised in controlling a crisis situation;[1]
  • 'Crisis situation' refers to any situation in which the competent authorities of a Member State have reasonable grounds to believe that there is a criminal offence presenting a serious direct physical threat to persons, property, infrastructure, or institutions in that Member State, particularly in situations combating terrorism.[1]

Organization

edit

ATLAS recognises that a Member State may not have the means, resources, or expertise to handle all crisis situations, particularly large crises. It provides a framework for a Member State to request assistance from another Member State.[1]

Members

edit

ATLAS consists of 38 special intervention units, including units from non-EU Member States such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.[6][7] The non-EU Member States can participate and use of all facilities, but they do not have voting rights.[8]

Country Unit Part of Notes
  Austria EKO Cobra[6][7]
Einsatzkommando Cobra
Task Force Cobra
Federal Ministry of the Interior
  Belgium DSU[6][7]
Direction des unités spéciales
Directorate of Special Units
Federal Police
  Bulgaria SOBT[6][7]
Специализиран отряд за борба с тероризма
Special Counter Terrorism Unit
Ministry of Interior
  Croatia ATJ Lučko[6][7]
Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko
Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit
Croatian Police
  Cyprus EAO[6][7]
Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis
Emergency Response Unit
Cyprus Police
  Czech Republic URNA[6][7]
Útvar rychlého nasazení
Rapid Response Unit
Police of the Czech Republic
  Denmark AKS[6][7]
Politiets Aktionsstyrke
Special Intervention Unit
Danish National Police
  Estonia K-Komando[6][7]
Counter Terrorism Unit
Police and Border Guard Board
  Finland Karhu[6][7]
Helsingin poliisilaitos Valmiusyksikkö
Police Special Intervention Unit
Helsinki Police Department
  France GIGN[6][7]
Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale
National Gendarmerie Intervention Group
National Gendarmerie
  France RAID[6][7]
Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion
Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence
National Police
  Germany GSG 9[6][7]
GSG 9 der Bundespolizei
GSG 9 of the Federal Police
Federal Police Formerly known as Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG 9; Border Protection Group 9) of the Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS; Federal Border Protection) from 1972 until 2005
  Germany SEK[6][7]
Spezialeinsatzkommando
Special Task Force
State Police SEK Baden-Württemberg representing the SEKs of the various State Police forces
  Greece EKAM[6][7]
Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada
Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit
Hellenic Police
  Hungary TEK[6][7]
Terrorelhárítási Központ
Counter Terrorism Centre
Ministry of Interior
  Iceland Viking[6][7]
Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra
Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner
Icelandic Police Non-EU participant
  Ireland ERU[6][7]
Aonad Práinnfhreagartha
Emergency Response Unit
Garda Síochána
  Italy GIS[6][7]
Gruppo di Intervento Speciale
Special Intervention Group
Carabinieri
  Italy NOCS[6][7]
Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza
Central Security Task Group
National Police
  Latvia OMEGA[6][7]
Pretterorisma vienība Omega
Counterterrorism Unit OMEGA
State Police
  Lithuania ARAS[6][7]
Antiteroristinių Operacijų Rinktinė ARAS
Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS
Lithuanian Police Force
  Luxembourg USP[6][7]
Unité Spéciale de la Police
Police Special Unit
Grand Ducal Police
  Malta SIU[6][7]
Special Intervention Unit
Malta Police Force
  Netherlands DSI[7]
Dienst Speciale Interventies
Special Intervention Service
National Police Corps
  Norway Delta[6][7]
Politiet Beredskapstroppen
Emergency Unit DELTA
Norwegian Police Service Non-EU participant
  Poland BOA[6][7]
Centralny Pododdział Kontrterrorystyczny Policji
Central Counter-terrorism Police Subunit
Polish Police
  Portugal GIOE[6][7]
Grupo de Intervenção de Operações Especiais
Special Operations Intervention Group
National Republican Guard
  Portugal GOE[6][7]
Grupo de Operações Especiais
Special Operations Group
Public Security Police
  Romania BSIJ[6][7]
Brigada Specială de Intervenție a Jandarmeriei
Gendarmerie Special Intervention Brigade
Romanian Gendarmerie
  Romania SIAS[6][7]
Serviciul de Intervenții și Acțiuni Speciale
Special Actions and Intervention Service
Romanian Police
  Slovakia Lynx Commando[6][7]
Útvar osobitného určenia
Special Operations Unit - Lynx Commando
Ministry of the Interior
  Slovenia Red Panther[6][7]
Specialna Enota Policije
Special Police Unit
Slovenian National Police Force
  Spain UEI[6][7]
Unidad Especial de Intervención
Special Intervention Unit
Civil Guard
  Spain GEO[6][7]
Grupo Especial de Operaciones
Special Operations Group
National Police Corps
  Sweden NI[6][7]
Nationella insatsstyrkan
National Task Force
Swedish Police Authority
   Switzerland SWISS SIU[6][7]
Swiss Special Intervention Units
Cantonal police Non-EU participant
  United Kingdom SCO19[6][7]
Specialist Firearms Command 19
Metropolitan Police Non-EU participant
  United Kingdom HMSU[6][7][9]
Headquarters Mobile Support Unit
Police Service of Northern Ireland Non-EU participant

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f On the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States of the European Union in crisis situations (Council Decision 2008/617/JHA). 23 June 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Seminar of the ATLAS network of European special intervention units". Presidency of the Council of the European Union. October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011.
  3. ^ "ATLAS Network". The Hague: European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL). 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  4. ^ Block, Ludo (15 March 2007). "Europe's Emerging Counter-Terrorism Elite: The ATLAS Network". Terrorism Monitor. 5 (5). The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism". Europol.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al "ATLAS Network". Europol. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism". Europol (Press release). 10 October 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Strengthening the ATLAS Network". Council of the European Union. 1 September 2017. 11828/17. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  9. ^ "ATLAS Network". www.europol.europa.eu. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

Further reading

edit
edit