ATLAS Network

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.{{cite journal |last1=Block |first1=Ludo |title=Europe's Emerging Counter-Terrorism Elite: The ATLAS Network |journal=Terrorism Monitor |date=15 March 2007 |volume=5 |issue=5 |url=https://jamestown.org/program/europes-emerging-counter-terrorism-elite-the-atlas-network/ |access-date=7 October 2017 |publisher=The Jamestown Foundation}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/closer-international-cooperation-to-fight-hostage-taking-kidnapping-and-terrorism |title=Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism |website=Europol}}

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.

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.

ATLAS consists of 38 special intervention units, including units from non-EU Member States such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.{{cite web |title=ATLAS Network |url=https://www.europol.europa.eu/partners-collaboration/atlas-network |website=Europol |access-date=25 October 2023 |date=13 April 2023}} The non-EU Member States can participate and use of all facilities, but they do not have voting rights.{{cite web |title=Strengthening the ATLAS Network |url=https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11828-2017-INIT/en/pdf |website=Council of the European Union |id=11828/17 |date=1 September 2017 |accessdate=21 August 2020}}

• List of police tactical units
• Europol
• Club de Berne, the equivalent for intelligence services

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• {{cite book |last1=Lippay |first1=Christopher |title=The ATLAS Network: European Special Intervention Units combating terrorism and violent crime |date=2021 |publisher=Stumpf + Kossendey, Edewecht |isbn=9783964610447 |edition=English |url=https://atlas-book.eu}}

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• Foreign Affairs magazine: [https://www.foreignaffairsreview.com/home/together-to-protect-europols-atlas-network-and-the-future-of-european-security Together to Protect: Europol’s ATLAS Network and the Future of European Security]
• Austrian Ministry of the Interior: [https://bmi.gv.at/magazin/2022_11_12/25_Atlas-Verbund.aspx ATLAS-Verbund: Vernetzung gegen Terror]

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Category:Law enforcement in Europe

Category:European Union