ATLAS Network
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| Formation | 2001[1] |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Transnational Organization |
| Purpose | Police tactical unit co-operation |
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
Region served | Europe |
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).[1][2] Together, these top-tier units maintain a constant state of readiness, poised to respond to any security crisis in Europe at any time.[3]
History
[edit | edit source]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.[1][2][4]
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.[5]
Terms
[edit | edit source]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.[1]
- '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.[1]
Organization
[edit | edit source]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.[1]
Members
[edit | edit source]ATLAS consists of 38 special intervention units, including units from non-EU Member States such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.[6][7] The non-EU Member States can participate and use of all facilities, but they do not have voting rights:[8]
| Country | Unit | Part of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria | EKO Cobra[6][7] Einsatzkommando Cobra Task Force Cobra |
Federal Ministry of the Interior | |
| File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | DSU[6][7] Direction des unités spéciales Directorate of Special Units |
Federal Police | |
| File:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria | SOBT[6][7] Специализиран отряд за борба с тероризма Special Counter Terrorism Unit |
Ministry of Interior | |
| File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia | ATJ Lučko[6][7] Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit |
Croatian Police | |
| File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus | EAO[6][7] Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis Emergency Response Unit |
Cyprus Police | |
| File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic | URNA[6][7] Útvar rychlého nasazení Rapid Response Unit |
Police of the Czech Republic | |
| File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark | AKS[6][7] Politiets Aktionsstyrke Special Intervention Unit |
Danish National Police | |
| File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia | K-Komando[6][7] Counter Terrorism Unit |
Police and Border Guard Board | |
| File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Karhu[6][7] Helsingin poliisilaitos Valmiusyksikkö Police Special Intervention Unit |
Helsinki Police Department | |
| File:Flag of France.svg France | GIGN[6][7] Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale National Gendarmerie Intervention Group |
National Gendarmerie | |
| File:Flag of France.svg France | RAID[6][7] Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence |
National Police | |
| File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany | GSG 9[6][7] 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 |
| File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany | SEK[6][7] Spezialeinsatzkommando Special Task Force |
State Police | SEK Baden-Württemberg representing the SEKs of the various State Police forces |
| File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece | EKAM[6][7] Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit |
Hellenic Police | |
| File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary | TEK[6][7] Terrorelhárítási Központ Counter Terrorism Centre |
Ministry of Interior | |
| File:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland | Viking[6][7] Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner |
Icelandic Police | Non-EU participant |
| File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland | ERU[6][7] Aonad Práinnfhreagartha Emergency Response Unit |
Garda Síochána | |
| File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | GIS[6][7] Gruppo di Intervento Speciale Special Intervention Group |
Carabinieri | |
| File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | NOCS[6][7] Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza Central Security Task Group |
National Police | |
| File:Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia | OMEGA[6][7] Pretterorisma vienība Omega Counterterrorism Unit OMEGA |
State Police | |
| File:Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania | ARAS[6][7] Antiteroristinių Operacijų Rinktinė ARAS Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS |
Lithuanian Police Force | |
| File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg | USP[6][7] Unité Spéciale de la Police Police Special Unit |
Grand Ducal Police | |
| File:Flag of Malta.svg Malta | SIU[6][7] Special Intervention Unit |
Malta Police Force | |
| File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands | DSI[7] Dienst Speciale Interventies Special Intervention Service |
National Police Corps | |
| File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | Delta[6][7] Politiet Beredskapstroppen Emergency Unit DELTA |
Norwegian Police Service | Non-EU participant |
| File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland | BOA[6][7] Centralny Pododdział Kontrterrorystyczny Policji Central Counter-terrorism Police Subunit |
Polish Police | |
| File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal | GIOE[6][7] Grupo de Intervenção de Operações Especiais Special Operations Intervention Group |
National Republican Guard | |
| File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal | GOE[6][7] Grupo de Operações Especiais Special Operations Group |
Public Security Police | |
| File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania | BSIJ[6][7] Brigada Specială de Intervenție a Jandarmeriei Gendarmerie Special Intervention Brigade |
Romanian Gendarmerie | |
| File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania | SIAS[6][7] Serviciul de Intervenții și Acțiuni Speciale Special Actions and Intervention Service |
Romanian Police | |
| File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia | Lynx Commando[6][7] Útvar osobitného určenia Special Operations Unit - Lynx Commando |
Ministry of the Interior | |
| File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia | Red Panther[6][7] Specialna Enota Policije Special Police Unit |
Slovenian National Police Force | |
| File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain | UEI[6][7] Unidad Especial de Intervención Special Intervention Unit |
Civil Guard | |
| File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain | GEO[6][7] Grupo Especial de Operaciones Special Operations Group |
National Police Corps | |
| File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden | NI[6][7] Nationella insatsstyrkan National Task Force |
Swedish Police Authority | |
| File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland | SWISS SIU[6][7] Swiss Special Intervention Units |
Cantonal police | Non-EU participant |
| File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom | SCO19[6][7] Specialist Firearms Command 19 |
Metropolitan Police | Non-EU participant |
| File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom | HMSU[6][7][9] Headquarters Mobile Support Unit |
Police Service of Northern Ireland | Non-EU participant |
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See also
[edit | edit source]- List of police tactical units
- Europol
- Club de Berne, the equivalent for intelligence services
References
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Further reading
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Foreign Affairs magazine: Together to Protect: Europol’s ATLAS Network and the Future of European Security
- Austrian Ministry of the Interior: ATLAS-Verbund: Vernetzung gegen Terror
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