On 26 February 2026, the European Commission presented a new ProtectEU agenda to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism in the EU. The agenda aims to update the Union’s response to an evolving threat landscape, including online radicalisation, the growing involvement of minors, the misuse of new technologies, and increasing links between terrorism, organised crime, and hostile foreign interference.

The Commission identifies six areas for action: (1) anticipating threats, (2) preventing radicalisation, (3) protecting people online, (4) securing public spaces and critical infrastructure, (5) improving responses to attacks, and (6) strengthening cooperation with international partners.

Key measures include reinforcing EU-level intelligence analysis and Europol’s analytical and open-source intelligence capacities, as well as expanding research on risks linked to artificial intelligence, crypto-assets, drones, and 3D-printed weapons. The agenda also introduces a prevention toolbox targeting the radicalisation of minors and a €5 million Community Engagement and Empowerment Programme focused on youth, digital resilience, and community cohesion.

In the online sphere, the Commission announces a possible revision of the Terrorist Content Online Regulation (→eucrim 2/2022, 112) following its 2026 evaluation and commits to stricter enforcement of the Digital Services Act. It also proposes upgrading the EU Crisis Protocol into a broader Online Crisis Response Framework to improve coordination between authorities and platforms.

Further measures address physical security, including improved information-sharing through the Schengen Information System, possible extensions of advance travel information rules, and additional investments in the protection of public spaces and critical infrastructure. The agenda also proposes new tools to track terrorist financing, including a future EU Financial Data Retrieval System, alongside revisions of Europol’s and Eurojust’s mandates.

The agenda builds on the broader ProtectEU, the European Internal Security Strategy presented in April 2025, which sets out a comprehensive framework for strengthening EU internal security and emphasises anticipatory action, cross-sectoral cooperation, and increased investment. Eucrim has previously reported on this strategy (→eucrim 1/2025, 3-4) and its subsequent assessment by the Council, noting both general support by Member States and an ongoing controversy surrounding access to data for law enforcement (→eucrim 2/2025, 110-111).