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ATLAS Network
Law enforcement units in the EU
Law enforcement units in the EU
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | ATLAS |
| formation | 2001 |
| status | Transnational Organization |
| purpose | Police tactical unit co-operation |
| headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
| region_served | Europe |
| leader_title | Chairman |
| main_organ | Various Committees |
| parent_organization | European Union |
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). Together, these top-tier units maintain a constant state of readiness, poised to respond to any security crisis in Europe at any time.
History
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.
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.
Terms
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.
- '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.
Organization
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.
Members
ATLAS consists of 38 special intervention units, including units from non-EU Member States such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. The non-EU Member States can participate and use of all facilities, but they do not have voting rights:
| Country | Unit | Part of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | EKO Cobra | ||
| Einsatzkommando Cobra | |||
| Task Force Cobra | Federal Ministry of the Interior | ||
| Belgium | DSU | ||
| Direction des unités spéciales | |||
| Directorate of Special Units | Federal Police | ||
| Bulgaria | SOBT | ||
| Специализиран отряд за борба с тероризма | |||
| Special Counter Terrorism Unit | Ministry of Interior | ||
| Croatia | ATJ Lučko | ||
| Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko | |||
| Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit | Croatian Police | ||
| Cyprus | EAO | ||
| Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis | |||
| Emergency Response Unit | Cyprus Police | ||
| Czech Republic | URNA | ||
| Útvar rychlého nasazení | |||
| Rapid Response Unit | Police of the Czech Republic | ||
| Denmark | AKS | ||
| Politiets Aktionsstyrke | |||
| Special Intervention Unit | Danish National Police | ||
| Estonia | K-Komando | ||
| Counter Terrorism Unit | Police and Border Guard Board | ||
| Finland | Karhu | ||
| Helsingin poliisilaitos Valmiusyksikkö | |||
| Police Special Intervention Unit | Helsinki Police Department | ||
| France | GIGN | ||
| Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale | |||
| National Gendarmerie Intervention Group | National Gendarmerie | ||
| France | RAID | ||
| Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion | |||
| Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence | National Police | ||
| Germany | GSG 9 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Spezialeinsatzkommando | |||
| Special Task Force | State Police | SEK Baden-Württemberg representing the SEKs of the various State Police forces | |
| Greece | EKAM | ||
| Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada | |||
| Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit | Hellenic Police | ||
| Hungary | TEK | ||
| Terrorelhárítási Központ | |||
| Counter Terrorism Centre | Ministry of Interior | ||
| Iceland | Viking | ||
| Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra | |||
| Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner | Icelandic Police | Non-EU participant | |
| Ireland | ERU | ||
| Aonad Práinnfhreagartha | |||
| Emergency Response Unit | Garda Síochána | ||
| Italy | GIS | ||
| Gruppo di Intervento Speciale | |||
| Special Intervention Group | Carabinieri | ||
| Italy | NOCS | ||
| Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza | |||
| Central Security Task Group | National Police | ||
| Latvia | OMEGA | ||
| Pretterorisma vienība Omega | |||
| Counterterrorism Unit OMEGA | State Police | ||
| Lithuania | ARAS | ||
| Antiteroristinių Operacijų Rinktinė ARAS | |||
| Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS | Lithuanian Police Force | ||
| Luxembourg | USP | ||
| Unité Spéciale de la Police | |||
| Police Special Unit | Grand Ducal Police | ||
| Malta | SIU | ||
| Special Intervention Unit | Malta Police Force | ||
| Netherlands | DSI | ||
| Dienst Speciale Interventies | |||
| Special Intervention Service | National Police Corps | ||
| Norway | Delta | ||
| Politiet Beredskapstroppen | |||
| Emergency Unit DELTA | Norwegian Police Service | Non-EU participant | |
| Poland | BOA | ||
| Centralny Pododdział Kontrterrorystyczny Policji | |||
| Central Counter-terrorism Police Subunit | Polish Police | ||
| Portugal | GIOE | ||
| Grupo de Intervenção de Operações Especiais | |||
| Special Operations Intervention Group | National Republican Guard | ||
| Portugal | GOE | ||
| Grupo de Operações Especiais | |||
| Special Operations Group | Public Security Police | ||
| Romania | BSIJ | ||
| Brigada Specială de Intervenție a Jandarmeriei | |||
| Gendarmerie Special Intervention Brigade | Romanian Gendarmerie | ||
| Romania | SIAS | ||
| Serviciul de Intervenții și Acțiuni Speciale | |||
| Special Actions and Intervention Service | Romanian Police | ||
| Slovakia | Lynx Commando | ||
| Útvar osobitného určenia | |||
| Special Operations Unit - Lynx Commando | Ministry of the Interior | ||
| Slovenia | Red Panther | ||
| Specialna Enota Policije | |||
| Special Police Unit | Slovenian National Police Force | ||
| Spain | UEI | ||
| Unidad Especial de Intervención | |||
| Special Intervention Unit | Civil Guard | ||
| Spain | GEO | ||
| Grupo Especial de Operaciones | |||
| Special Operations Group | National Police Corps | ||
| Sweden | NI | ||
| Nationella insatsstyrkan | |||
| National Task Force | Swedish Police Authority | ||
| Switzerland | SWISS SIU | ||
| Swiss Special Intervention Units | Cantonal police | Non-EU participant | |
| United Kingdom | SCO19 | ||
| Specialist Firearms Command 19 | Metropolitan Police | Non-EU participant | |
| United Kingdom | HMSU | ||
| Headquarters Mobile Support Unit | Police Service of Northern Ireland | Non-EU participant |
References
References
- (23 June 2008). "On the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States of the European Union in crisis situations".
- (October 2008). "Seminar of the ATLAS network of European special intervention units".
- (2023-04-12). "ATLAS Network". European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL).
- (15 March 2007). "Europe's Emerging Counter-Terrorism Elite: The ATLAS Network". The Jamestown Foundation.
- "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism".
- (13 April 2023). "ATLAS Network".
- (1 September 2017). "Strengthening the ATLAS Network".
- (10 October 2018). "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism".
- (12 April 2023). "ATLAS Network".
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