The Commission has selected 13 projects, involving 163 participants from 22 EU countries and two non-EU countries, which will receive a total budget of EUR 30 million under the Internal Security Fund (ISF). The projects will help strengthen the protection of public spaces such as shopping malls, public transportation, entertainment venues and places of worship. Some specific projects aim at protecting Jewish places of worship, schools, and community gatherings.
The call for proposals to the public authorities, law enforcement agencies, research institutions and private companies was published in December 2023.
Selected projects are already running their activities or are expected to become operational in the first half of 2025. They will support the implementation of the EU Counter-Terrorism Agenda and focus on areas, such as combating firearms trafficking, countering threats posed by non-cooperative drones, as well as protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
This funding initiative builds on previous efforts, with EUR 22.7 million and EUR 17.8 million awarded in 2020 and 2022. With this investment, the Commission reinforces its commitment to protecting its citizens and preventing future attacks, promoting a safer and more secure Europe for all.