On 16 December 2024, the Council approved conclusions to step up the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. These build on the counter-terrorism priorities adopted on 12 December 2024 and other previous Council conclusions on the fight against terrorism (→ related links).

The conclusions of 16 December 2024 stress the EU's determination to work with partner countries and protect citizens as well as the need to enhance links between external and internal aspects of the EU's counter-terrorism response. They include several proposals for measures that should be implemented by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, the High Representative, the Commission, and the Member States.

The Council highlights the increasing heterogeneity and fragmentation of the threat from terrorism and violent extremism, in particular from the Da’esh Khorasan Province (ISKP), which has an increasing ability to conduct external operations, including in Europe. The deteriorating security situation in Africa and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East are driving radicalisation worldwide. The Council reiterates the need to fight terrorism and violent extremism through a coherent approach involving both the EU's common foreign and security policy and justice and home affairs action.

The Council reaffirms that the only sustainable response to these threats is to be based on democracy, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and gender-responsiveness. It also emphasises the need for further investment in cooperation with third countries, in particular through dialogues and capacity-building projects. The full potential of the network of EU counter-terrorism/security experts must be harvested. Lastly, the Council calls for Team Europe initiatives to make the EU's efforts in the fight against terrorism even more effective and better coordinated.