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ATLAS Network

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).

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ATLAS
Formation20011
Legal statusTransnational Organization
PurposePolice tactical unit co-operation
HeadquartersBrussels, 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).12

History

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.123

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.4

Terms

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

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

ATLAS consists of 38 special intervention units, including units from non-EU Member States such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.56 The non-EU Member States can participate and use of all facilities, but they do not have voting rights.7

Country Unit Part of Notes
Austria EKO Cobra56
Einsatzkommando Cobra
Task Force Cobra		 Federal Ministry of the Interior
Belgium DSU56
Directie van de Speciale Eenheden
Directorate of Special Units		 Federal Police
Bulgaria SOBT56
Специализиран отряд за борба с тероризма
Special Counter Terrorism Unit		 Ministry of Interior
Croatia ATU Lucko56
Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko
Specijalna Policija MUP RH		 Croatian Police
Cyprus EAO56
Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis
Special Antiterrorist Squad		 Cyprus Police
Czech Republic URNA56
Útvar rychlého nasazení
Rapid Response Unit		 Police of the Czech Republic
Denmark AKS56
Politiets Aktionsstyrke
Special Intervention Unit		 Danish National Police
Estonia K-Komando56
Counter Terrorism Unit		 Police and Border Guard Board
Finland Karhu56
Helsingin poliisilaitos Valmiusyksikkö
Police Special Intervention Unit		 Helsinki Police Department
France GIGN56
Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale
National Gendarmerie Intervention Group		 National Gendarmerie
France RAID56
Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion
Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence		 National Police
Germany GSG 956
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)
Germany SEK56
Spezialeinsatzkommando der Polizei Baden-Württemberg, SEK BW
Special Task Force		 State Police
Greece EKAM56
Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada
Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit		 Hellenic Police
Hungary TEK56
Terrorelhárítási Központ
Counter Terrorism Centre		 Ministry of Interior
Iceland Viking56
Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra
Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner		 Icelandic Police Non-EU participant
Ireland ERU56
Aonad Práinnfhreagartha
Emergency Response Unit		 Garda Síochána
Italy GIS56
Gruppo di Intervento Speciale
Special Intervention Group		 Carabinieri
Italy NOCS56
Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza
Central Security Task Group		 National Police
Latvia OMEGA56
Pretterorisma vienība Omega
Counterterrorism Unit		 State Police
Lithuania ARAS56
Antiteroristinių Operacijų Rinktinė ARAS
Anti-terrorist Operations Unit		 Lithuanian Police Force
Luxembourg USP56
Unité Spéciale de la Police
Police Special Unit		 Grand Ducal Police
Malta SIU56
Special Intervention Unit		 Malta Police Force
Netherlands DSI6
Dienst Speciale Interventies
Special Intervention Service		 National Police Corps
Norway Delta56
Politiet Beredskapstroppen
Emergency Unit		 Norwegian Police Service Non-EU participant
Poland BOA56
Centralny Pododdział Kontrterrorystyczny Policji
Central Counter-terrorism Police Subunit		 Polish Police
Portugal GIOE56
Grupo de Intervenção de Operações Especiais
Special Operations Intervention Group		 National Republican Guard
Portugal GOE56
Grupo de Operações Especiais
Special Operations Group		 Public Security Police
Romania BSIJ56
Brigada Specială de Intervenție a Jandarmeriei
Gendarmerie Special Intervention Brigade		 Romanian Gendarmerie
Romania SIAS56
Serviciul de Intervenții și Acțiuni Speciale
Special Actions and Intervention Service		 Romanian Police
Slovakia Lynx Commando56
Útvar osobitného určenia
Special Counter Terrorism Police Unit		 Ministry of the Interior
Slovenia Red Panther56
Specialna Enota Policije
Special Police Unit		 Slovenian National Police Force
Spain UEI56
Unidad Especial de Intervención
Special Intervention Unit		 Civil Guard
Spain GEO56
Grupo Especial de Operaciones
Special Operations Group		 National Police Corps
Sweden NI56
Nationella insatsstyrkan
National Task Force		 Swedish Police Authority
 Switzerland SWISS SIU56
Swiss Special Intervention Units		 Cantonal police Non-EU participant
United Kingdom SCO1956
Specialist Firearms Command 19		 Metropolitan Police Non-EU participant
United Kingdom HMSU568
Headquarters Mobile Support Unit		 Police Service of Northern Ireland Non-EU participant
See also

See also

References

References

  1. On the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States of the European Union in crisis situations (Council Decision 2008/617/JHA). 23 June 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  2. "Seminar of the ATLAS network of European special intervention units". Presidency of the Council of the European Union. October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011.
  3. Block, Ludo (15 March 2007). "Europe's Emerging Counter-Terrorism Elite: The ATLAS Network". Terrorism Monitor. 5 (5). The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  4. "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism". Europol.
  5. "ATLAS Network". Europol. European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. 13 Apr 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  6. "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism". Europol (Press release). 10 October 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  7. "Strengthening the ATLAS Network". Council of the European Union. 1 September 2017. 11828/17. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. "ATLAS Network". www.europol.europa.eu. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
Further reading

Further reading

External links