major events security

Security at major events remains a top priority for host nations, attendees, participants and neighboring countries. Our task in this instance was to elevate the standard of analysis research to ensure airtight security during major events. In response to the changing security environment, the EU-SEC II team is taking a fresh approach to security at major events.

Conceived as a regional initiative within UNICRI’s IPO framework, the Coordinating National Research Programmes on Security during Major Events in Europe (EU-SEC, 2004-2008) project pioneered the coordination of security research among Member States.

EU-SEC II has proven its potential for security cooperation by assembling a broad coalition of 22 EU Member States. The project’s long-term aim, beginning in 2008 and lasting through 2011, is to assist, through the harmonization of national security research policies, the creation of a European House of Major Events. The driving force behind this initiative is the need for effective security policies supporting the efforts of major events organizers. EU-SEC II will build on the research networks created by EU-SEC. The innovative aspect of the project is its application of advanced managerial skills to security cooperation. National and international entities require coordination in order to ensure that their information and policies do not overlap, while at the same time permitting them to work together as a unified system.

UNICRI’s unique managerial and coordination capacities enable it to facilitate optimal common security research policies among European nations. The project will facilitate and coordinate all available technical, financial and human resources in order to bring research policy to the highest possible level of efficiency. EU-SEC II aims to prevent fragmentation of ideas or duplication of efforts. The project also aims to synchronize private security technology providers with national security practitioners, thus facilitating development and supply of the most effective security technology. Through this model, EU-SEC II aims to facilitate the development of efficient, cost-effective security tools for Member States and to provide a research roadmap for relevant EU institutions.

The results, insights, and best practices developed through the EU-SEC II project will be utilized as strategic research and technology models at the national and European regional levels. A central goal of EU-SEC II is to create improvements in security cooperation, planning and preparation that will be sustainable over a long period of time and remain useful for Member States well into future decades.