The Terrorism in the European Union - Case Study Example

The Terrorism in the European Union Name: Course: Instructor: Institution: Location: Date: Introduction Terrorism in the European Union has had a long history dating back to the beginning of the 20th Century. However, the reasons for wreaking terror across Europe have been different, with some groups doing so for political purposes, while others as a result of religious extremism. In essence, terrorism in the EU like any other part of the world results from a sense of disenfranchisement, alienation, and discrimination, and other forms of marginalization from specific groups smaller than the predominant ones. In other cases, terrorism is used as a tool for sending political and religious messages designed to provoke fear to others. However, terrorism in the European Union has been a significant security challenge that has plagued the region for decades, resulting in more resources dedicated to combating it. It jeopardizes the validity and strength of the democratic societies therein, thus threatening the freedoms and rights of citizens. In the past decade, terrorism has increased in intensity in the EU, a phenomenon that has resulted from various factors. The Neo-Functionalism theory focusing on the European integration aims to collectively address this issue through a consolidated security effort and policies. Through a collective effort of the 28 member state treaty, there is a great potential for increased levels of coordination and communication, which may further enhance the security of the region. There have been negative impacts on the Greek politics, characterized by increased debt and poverty, part of which is related to enduring the most of migrating groups from countries such as Iraq and Syria. The existing European policies focusing on increased levels of coordination as a strategy for countering terrorism in the region. Thus, the research study seeks to evaluate the overall European Union situation in terms of how they are impacted by terrorism on a more dynamic spectrum. The study is evaluated through the concept of neo-functionalism of the European Union, which emphasizes on integration as a more effective strategy of addressing future challenges. Overview of Terrorism in the EU In the past decade, terrorism in the European Union has increased significantly. According to Killalea (2016), terrorism has peaked dangerous levels in this region, resulting to suspects doubling in number, resources being directed to combat it. The biggest source of threat is from foreign groups and lone wolves, which make them more difficult to detect. Furthermore, the efforts to combat this threat have led to many more suspects being arrested, and a majority of them being convicted. An estimated increase of 38 percent was recorded between 2013 and 2015 in terms of numbers of attacks all over countries within Europe. This has resulted in a massive number of casualties and loss of property. Many of the threats result from religious extremist such as the jihadist groups, Islamic States, and individuals commonly referred to as lone wolves. According to the Europol, the year 2016 was especially challenging to the European Union, with a reported 142 attempted terrorist attacks. Within these figures, the UK recorded 76 of them, France 23, Italy 17, and others such as Spain, Greece, Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands recording the rest. The attacks were characterized by use of explosives and firearms, with an increased proportion of women and children participating in perpetrating these activities. Killalea states that the Islamic State “has demonstrated its ability to strike at will, at multiple times and at a diverse range of targets” (2016, par 13). With an increased level of resources resulting from funding, the group has shown ability to influence, recruit, train, and assign individuals and groups the roles of carrying out attacks in different forms such as using firearms, bombs, and other deadly weapons. The group has also demonstrated an ability of reaching out to Muslim individuals to carry out terrorist attacks on their behalf. Over the past decade, an estimated 5000 individuals from the European Union have travelled to Iraq and Syria to become recruited into these extremist groups. The level of indoctrination into extremist beliefs is estimated to have increased significantly over the past decade, a phenomenon that has caused serious concerns in the European Union. According to Europol, the terror attacks are mainly carried out by less sophisticated operatives, who have a high level of coordination with their groups. Additionally, the terror groups’ main target areas have been seen to be soft spots, where populations are likely to be high and security low. One major weakness that the European Union faces is the fact that many of the recruited operatives as well as suspects have been seen to be EU citizens, who have been indoctrinated within a short period (Cini & Borragán, 2016, 66). Terrorism in the European Union has also raised concerns about its relationship with immigrant groups from these regions entering into the countries. While some reports have established links between increased immigration and increased number of terrorist attacks, other reports suggest that there is no evidence that these groups have used refugee routes to enter into the country. Another significant concern that was raised was the level of negative nationalist sentiments such as xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitic views increased tension, separation, and a reduced level of cooperation between groups. Innocent asylum seekers and the larger Muslim communities existing within the European Union nations have also faced severe challenges in dealing with the aftermath of terrorist attacks (Joly, 2016). In many cases, the level of xenophobic and racist attacks and other forms of retaliation occur after major terrorist attacks have been carried out. Here, many people belonging to the Muslim community are likely to face an increased threat to their safety and even lives by nationalist extremists within these countries. They are likely to experience threats or even abuse in public spaces as a result of their race and faith. Overall, terrorism has created a wedge between the Muslim communities and the larger European community at a time when many resources and efforts are being pushed towards peace and integration for all citizens. Another significant social impact caused by terrorism is the increased level of surveillance to citizens as a means to identify and root out potential suspects. This has led to a social resistance, where the public has aired concerns about privacy, one of the fundamental liberties afforded to citizens. With increased surveillance, there has been a challenge of lack of support from the public because of the ethical concerns of breaching of privacy. This has been yet another dynamic that has characterized the fight to control prevent terrorism in the European Union. Lawmakers face the ethical dilemma of establishing policies that provides the scope of operations for law enforcing bodies. Additionally, there has been a challenge of enforcing these laws across all EU countries, an effort that requires a high level of regional coordination. Economic Impact of terrorism in the European Union A vicious economic cycle has been formed because of the increased level of terror attacks in the European Union. One of those effects is related to the economic situation that the region has to adjust to in order to address this issue. Foremost, there is the issue of directing security and financial resources into controlling the damage as well as increasing preventive measures against future attacks. Shortly after the Paris attacks, which occurred in November 2015, France increased their daily spending on security to up to €1 million (Rahaman, 2016). The increase in defense spending means that other sectors of the economy may lack the resources they need for developments. Heightened security in areas considered to be soft spots for terrorist attacks have also increased the level of spending for the larger EU. There has been a need to enhance surveillance and security in areas suspected to be targets for operatives, such as malls, concerts, and even stadiums, where populations are also high. Other countries in the European Union have needed to deal with the increased calls to the law enforcement bodies, unaddressed reported crimes, and other increasing security demands from the public. With this increase in demand, more work force has been employed to address it, which has in effect reduced the level of funding required to address all areas. Additionally, the increased demands mean that the public has to deal with a reduced quality service in terms of security provision from the state. Another economic challenge rises from the fact that immigrants from these war torn countries have sought refuge in many of the EU countries. According to Rahaman, Germany is among the few countries that have accepted a large number of refugees as a result of the mass migration crisis. This has resulted in an increased difficulty to “balance the books whilst having to provide for so many extra stomachs” (par 3). Spain and Portugal, which are in close proximity to terrorist cells working in North West Africa, have also increased the budget of their defense spending. The spending has in particular been directed to securing borders, which prevent access into their countries and subsequently the larger European Union (Rahaman, 2016). Neo-Functionalism Theory of the EU and Terrorism The neo-functionalist theory emphasizes growth of integration among regional states. In the case of the European Union, the theory encapsulates regional integration through trade, economic growth, political advancements, and other important shared concerns. From the perspective of a neo-functionalist, the concept of nationalism does not take precedence over the importance of regional coordination. It is considered to be the future path of development, which is designed to provide maximum success in solving disputes and differences (Alonso, 2016, 33). With the increased level of globalization, neo-functionalism is supported by factors such as increased communication, trade, interaction, and the formation of international alliances for the achievement of specific social, political, and economic goals. The concept of integration also supports the connections of one sector between states, which lead to spillovers in other areas of interest. Another significant fuel of this theory is the concept of loyalty. The EU member states are required to go through the process of building trust, which places them in a better position to exchange information and ideas. Within this theory, technical standards will be regulated by the member states showing the highest or lowest level of advancement (Hill et al, 2017, 38) From a political perspective, a level of control may be reached by the nations that have the tightest or loosest regulations. The idea of integration to this extent may be beneficial for the European Union member states in terms of addressing the issue of terrorism from a regional rather than national perspective. As seen, most of the member states face a severe threat from terrorism, resulting in the need to work together as a way of countering it. From the spillover effect, the member states are forced to increase the overall scope to which they are committed (Smith, 2013). This allows them to become more active in solving regional issues, rather than become passive observers. The political actors therefore become more stable established bodies that are dedicated to increasing defense throughout the region. Member states also become more active in the decision making process, thus ensuring that they have specific and unique concerns addressed. The threat of terrorist can also be effectively countered by a combined financial effort, which ensures that poorer EU countries such as Greece are able to control their borders as well as enhance security. The school of thought also enhances and hastens the process of diversification among member states. with diversification comes a level of tolerance that counters anti-Semitic and racist views held against people in the Muslim communities. Furthermore, the theory is also characterized by an enhancement within the political landscape, where countries are able to consolidate their ideas and efforts towards forming more ideal security and migration regulations. Asylum Seekers and the Fear of Terror Asylum seekers have often faced the double struggle of escaping from their war affected countries and the effort to gain entry into the safer European Union nations. On one hand, many countries such as Germany and Greece have made efforts to welcome as many refugees as possible. On the other hand, there are several concerns over security as well as the financial capacity to house the millions of refugees crossing borders every year. The fear of terror within the war-torn countries has led to a mass migration of asylum seekers from their home countries and into Europe (Joly, 2016). With a significant decrease in safety as well as life expectancy in countries such as Iraq and Syria, there has been a significant level of desperation by innocent victims of war, who are essentially the collateral damage of heavy and dangerous conflict. Many of the parties taking part in the war have often shown little regard for citizens on the way, and have demonstrated their view of human life to be expendable (Bordignon & Moriconi, 2017, 19). Furthermore, with violent conflict comes an increased level of poverty resulting from directed resources into defense spending in the war torn countries as well as the destruction of lives and property. Many victims are those within the prime of their lives. Therefore, there is a significant loss in economic productivity. An increased level of poverty coupled with an inability to rebuild life because of the uncertainties make European Union countries much more attractive to asylum seekers. Thus, the present fear of these victims is justified in all accounts. The Mediterranean Sea has been a popular route used by these asylum seekers in the hopes of crossing the continent into Europe through countries such as Spain and Portugal. Through land, countries such as Greece have been used as gateways into the European Union. While the level of migration from the war-affected regions has increased in the last 5 years, there have also been casualties resulting from accidents in the sea. Many of the means used to cross these borders are small unsafe boats, which further increase the risks to their lives. In the year 2015, a recorded 1 million people arrived into Europe through the Mediterranean Sea alone. In the same year, an estimated 3700 people died from unsafe crossing methods. In the preceding year, the figure was estimated at 280,000 people. With these figures, it is evident that as the civil wars continue to worsen, the figures are projected to increase in the future. This is a significant rise from the years ranging from 2008 to 2013, where the records were consistent at 100,000 people. From these migrants, a vast majority (about 80%) are estimated to come from three countries alone: Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan (Europol, 2017). While there are many migrants into the European Union, a smaller proportion of these groups apply for asylum, which is a status that can provide them with more rights and benefits. Challenges in asylum seeking have been further worsened by the violence and abuse that asylum seekers face when dealing with traffickers. They charge thousands of dollars for transporting people across the Mediterranean and other routes. Additionally, they cramp people in small spaces within unsafe boats, where they face the risk of losing their lives through drowning. Some of the worst cases of boats carrying people across the Mediterranean include the boat that left Libya in August 2015, where it sunk carrying 500 people. Italy’s shipwreck on 19 April killed an estimated 800 migrants. With the many restrictions placed within the European Union countries concerning access of migrants and refugees, a question has been raised as to whether the European Union nations have done their fair share of providing assistance. While efforts have been made to provide relief to overburdened countries such as Greece and Germany, there is still much to be done. Impacts in Greek Politics and the European Integration Greek has been at the forefront in experiencing direct threats resulting from terrorism. With its close proximity to countries where migrants come from, there is evidence showing that some terrorist groups and individuals have taken advantage of this phenomenon to gain illegal access. Currently, Greece is facing heavy financial burden resulting from an economic downturn. Thus, the increase in migration from the war-affected countries only exacerbates their financial situations, with many sectors being strained in order to cater for the newcomers. Additionally, the increase in migration from the Middle East to Greece has placed an additional strain to the rest of the EU countries. With the Schengen agreement, individuals within the European Union countries are able to move from one country to another without the need to carry out identification processes. This gives much more room for individuals to move from one country to another illegally and without any documents (Rahaman, 2016). As such, with limited resources in Greece, migrants are forced to other regions such as Germany and Belgium, among other countries, where they are able to seek asylum. One of the main challenges that affect Greece is the lack of resources to prevent entry and processing of these migrants. The country’s resources also limit them from directing resources towards identifying them to deport them. As such, the lack of regulation may provide an excellent opportunity for extremist groups to slip through into the EU. In the light of this, the relationship between Greece and the rest of the EU countries has diminished from a political perspective. Many of these countries have taken steps to close their borders as a way of addressing the increasing concerns of influx. What has resulted is a humanitarian crisis within the small Greek islands. Authorities within these areas are overburdened by the task of providing humanitarian assistance, with local people making additional contributions. EU Policies on Terrorism The European policies surrounding prevention and control of terrorist attacks and activities have been enhanced significantly following the increased threats. The Council of the EU and the European Council have prioritized their agendas for counter terrorism in the past 5 years since the civil wars struck in the Middle East. While the main responsibility is placed on individual member states, the European Council has been assigned with the task of enhancing coordination among them in order to enhance control and preventive measures (Smith, 2013, 23). The main aim is to ensure that the safety of its citizens is maintained through the safeguarding of fundamental democratic and regional values. The policies placed within the EU surrounding terrorism have been geared towards controlling the number and types of migrants entering into the regions. In particular, screening processes have ensured that people with ties to extremist groups are not only prevented from entering, but also detained, tried and convicted in the event that they have committed previous crimes. Other enhanced security measures have been aimed at increasing the level of surveillance, in order to better detect terrorist activities through major electronic mediums. While these policies have caused controversies, some evidence has linked increased surveillance to reduced criminal activity and coordination among operant plans. It has led to shutting down of sites supporting terrorist groups, thus leading to reduced influence among others (Bordignon & Moriconi, 2017, 88). EU policies have also been geared towards increased traceability of terrorist groups and their activities. In particular, many operations are currently directed towards investigation of their sources of funding. One way to significantly thwart plans is to cut the funding that supports their recruitment and training processes, as well as purchase of firearms and explosive materials. Conclusion Terrorism in the European Union is a dynamic phenomenon that has caused significant challenges towards the progress and safety of its citizens. The study aimed to consider terrorism in the EU from the neo-functionalism perspective, a theory that supports multinational cohesion and coordination as a way of addressing future shared challenges. Effects of terrorism include an increased funding towards security and defense, increased level of surveillance, reduced social cohesion, and a significant influx of refugees fleeing from their war torn countries. Greece has borne the burden of taking care of refugees, with some member states tightening their borders to control influx. The Neo-functionalism of the EU has enabled building closer ties among its member states as a means of controlling terrorism. Policies surrounding prevention measures include increased level of cohesion among member states, increased surveillance, and more funding towards security. References Alonso, A., 2016. Terrorism, Jihadism, Organized Crime in the Global Security Strategy of the European Union. Revista unisci, (42), pp.11-46. Bordignon, M. and Moriconi, S., 2017. The case for a common European refugee policy (No. 19605). Bruegel. Cini, M. and Borragán, N.P., 2016. European union politics. Oxford University Press. Europol, 2017, 2017 EU terrorism report, Retrieved at https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/2017-eu-terrorism-report-142-failed-foiled-and-completed-attacks-1002-arrests-and-142-victims-died Hill, C., Smith, M. and Vanhoonacker, S., 2017. International relations and the European Union. Oxford University Press. Joly, D., 2016. Heaven or hell?: asylum policies and refugees in Europe. Springer. Killalea, D, 2016, Terrorist attacks in Europe: This is how dangerous it has become, News.com, Retrieved at http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/terrorist-attacks-in-europe-this-is-how-dangerous-it-has-become/news-story/6698f619b28445b9da4ebd763b27e115 Rahaman, E, 2016, The effects of terrorism in Europe, Odyssey, Retrieved at https://www.theodysseyonline.com/effects-terrorism-europe Smith, K.E., 2013. European Union foreign policy in a changing world, John Wiley & Sons. Read More