Ref. Ares(2015)3219914 - 31/07/2015
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL MIGRATION AND HOME AFFAIRS
Directorate D: Security
The Director
Brussels,
home.d.1
Subject:
Invitation to the EU Internet Forum – awareness raising session on
24th July 2015 in Brussels, Belgium
Dear Madam/Sir,
Following recent attacks in Europe, the terrorist threat to the European Union remains
high. There is increasing concern about the way in which terrorists are abusing the
internet and social media to incite terrorist atrocities or radicalise and recruit others.
Ministers have identified addressing terrorists' use of the internet as a priority and it is
clear we need to explore areas for enhancing our efforts and achieving tangible progress.
The European Agenda on Security committed to the establishment of an EU-level
Internet forum. A series of events are planned in preparation of the formal launch of the
Forum later this year. As one of the first such events the Commission would like to invite
you to the:
EU Internet Forum - Awareness raising session between the internet and social
media companies and EU Member States
24 July 2015 – 10:00-16:30
Schuman Room of the Berlaymont Building
200 rue de la Loi, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
The purpose of this meeting is to bring together representatives from Ministries of
Interior and/or Justice as well as law enforcement from all EU Member States and
Europol together with representatives of internet and social media companies. The
objective is to set out the work that is already underway, discuss the challenges from an
operational, policy and industry perspective, and identify areas for further collaboration.
We see the first two priorities as centred on reducing accessibility to terrorist content
(complementary to Europol's efforts in this area) and on increasing efforts to challenge
the terrorist narrative online (complementary to initiatives within the Radicalisation
Commission européenne, B-1049 Bruxelles / Europese Commissie, B-1049 Brussel - Belgium. Telephone: (32-2) 299 11 11.
Office: LX46 03/1406. Telephone: direct line (32-2) 2962116.
E-mail: xxxxx.xxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Awareness Network). Taking account of initial discussions, we thought this would be an
ideal opportunity for you to set out the work you are already undertaking in this area,
including initiatives to support the development and dissemination of counter narratives
as well as the application of your terms and conditions. We hope that this first meeting
will enhance understanding of each other's capability and establish a more collaborative
working relationship going forward.
An agenda will be sent out nearer the time, but in the meantime, we would be grateful if
you could come prepared to speak about your company's approach to tackling terrorist
material online and the specific challenges you face in doing so.
Interpretation facilities will be provided for in English, French, German, Italian, Dutch
and Spanish.
Please register by providing your name and contact details (email, organisation, date of
birth, ID number, ID expiry) of your representative(s) by email to
Home-Internet-
xxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx by 8th July 2015.
For queries on the content of the meeting, please contact Ms Ilona von Bethlenfalvy
(T: +32-2-29-67187; E:
xxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx) or Lucinda Armstrong
(T: +32-2-29-52986; E:
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx). For administrative issues
please
contact
Ms
Pascale
Pourbaix
(T:
+32-2-29-53389;
E:
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx).
The agenda will follow in due course. The Commission is looking forward to your
participation in this important event.
Yours sincerely,
Luigi SORECA
2