ATLAS Network
 | |
| Formation | 2001 |
|---|---|
| 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).
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.
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.
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.
- '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.
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.
Members
ATLAS consists of 38 special intervention units, including units from non-EU Member States such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. The non-EU Member States can participate and use of all facilities, but they do not have voting rights.
| Country | Unit | Part of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | EKO Cobra Einsatzkommando Cobra Task Force Cobra | Federal Ministry of the Interior | |
 Belgium | DSU Directie van de Speciale Eenheden Directorate of Special Units | Federal Police | |
 Bulgaria | SOBT Специализиран отряд за борба с тероризма Special Counter Terrorism Unit | Ministry of Interior | |
 Croatia | ATU Lucko Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko Specijalna Policija MUP RH | Croatian Police | |
 Cyprus | EAO Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis Special Antiterrorist Squad | Cyprus Police | |
 Czech Republic | URNA Útvar rychlého nasazení Rapid Response Unit | Police of the Czech Republic | |
 Denmark | AKS Politiets Aktionsstyrke Special Intervention Unit | Danish National Police | |
 Estonia | K-Komando Counter Terrorism Unit | Police and Border Guard Board | |
 Finland | Karhu Helsingin poliisilaitos Valmiusyksikkö Police Special Intervention Unit | Helsinki Police Department | |
 France | GIGN Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale National Gendarmerie Intervention Group | National Gendarmerie | |
| France | RAID Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence | National Police | |
 Germany | GSG 9 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 | SEK Spezialeinsatzkommando der Polizei Baden-Württemberg, SEK BW Special Task Force | State Police | |
 Greece | EKAM Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit | Hellenic Police | |
 Hungary | TEK Terrorelhárítási Központ Counter Terrorism Centre | Ministry of Interior | |
 Iceland | Viking Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner | Icelandic Police | Non-EU participant |
 Ireland | ERU Aonad Práinnfhreagartha Emergency Response Unit | Garda Síochána | |
 Italy | GIS Gruppo di Intervento Speciale Special Intervention Group | Carabinieri | |
| Italy | NOCS Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza Central Security Task Group | National Police | |
 Latvia | OMEGA Pretterorisma vienība Omega Counterterrorism Unit | State Police | |
 Lithuania | ARAS Antiteroristinių Operacijų Rinktinė ARAS Anti-terrorist Operations Unit | Lithuanian Police Force | |
 Luxembourg | USP Unité Spéciale de la Police Police Special Unit | Grand Ducal Police | |
 Malta | SIU Special Intervention Unit | Malta Police Force | |
 Netherlands | DSI Dienst Speciale Interventies Special Intervention Service | National Police Corps | |
 Norway | Delta Politiet Beredskapstroppen Emergency Unit | Norwegian Police Service | Non-EU participant |
 Poland | BOA Centralny Pododdział Kontrterrorystyczny Policji Central Counter-terrorism Police Subunit | Polish Police | |
 Portugal | GIOE Grupo de Intervenção de Operações Especiais Special Operations Intervention Group | National Republican Guard | |
| Portugal | GOE Grupo de Operações Especiais Special Operations Group | Public Security Police | |
 Romania | BSIJ Brigada Specială de Intervenție a Jandarmeriei Gendarmerie Special Intervention Brigade | Romanian Gendarmerie | |
| Romania | SIAS Serviciul de Intervenții și Acțiuni Speciale Special Actions and Intervention Service | Romanian Police | |
 Slovakia | Lynx Commando Útvar osobitného určenia Special Counter Terrorism Police Unit | Ministry of the Interior | |
 Slovenia | Red Panther Specialna Enota Policije Special Police Unit | Slovenian National Police Force | |
 Spain | UEI Unidad Especial de Intervención Special Intervention Unit | Civil Guard | |
| Spain | GEO Grupo Especial de Operaciones Special Operations Group | National Police Corps | |
 Sweden | NI Nationella insatsstyrkan National Task Force | Swedish Police Authority | |
 Switzerland | SWISS SIU Swiss Special Intervention Units | Cantonal police | Non-EU participant |
 United Kingdom | SCO19 Specialist Firearms Command 19 | Metropolitan Police | Non-EU participant |
| United Kingdom | HMSU Headquarters Mobile Support Unit | Police Service of Northern Ireland | Non-EU participant |
See also
- List of police tactical units
- Europol
- Club de Berne, the equivalent for intelligence services
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.
- 1 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism". Europol.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 "ATLAS Network". Europol. European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. 13 Apr 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism". Europol (Press release). 10 October 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ↑ "Strengthening the ATLAS Network". Council of the European Union. 1 September 2017. 11828/17. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ↑ "ATLAS Network". www.europol.europa.eu. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
Further reading
- Lippay, Christopher (2021). The ATLAS Network: European Special Intervention Units combating terrorism and violent crime (English ed.). Stumpf + Kossendey, Edewecht. ISBN 9783964610447.
