ATLAS Network

The ATLAS network is an association of the police tactical units of the 27 Member States of the European Union established following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 upon the initiative of the Police Chiefs Task Force.[1][2] ATLAS was initially informally established for information exchange and training activities co-operation between units and was later formalised by a Council decision in 2008 that also expanded ATLAS functions to include provision of assistance upon request to another Member State.[1][2][3]

For the US-based foundation that supports think tanks, see Atlas Network.
ATLAS
MottoAll together to protect you
Formation2001[1]
PurposePolice tactical unit co-operation
Region served
Europe
Parent organization
European Union

ATLAS uses the terms special intervention unit and crisis situation defined as:-

  • 'Special intervention unit' is any law enforcement unit of a Member State which is specialised in the control of a crisis situation;[1]
  • 'Crisis situation' is 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 in particular situations combating terrorism.[1]

ATLAS recognises that a Member State may not have the means, resources or expertise to deal effectively with all crisis situations, in particular large crisis situations, and provides a framework for a Member State to request assistance from another member State.[1]

Members
UnitCountry
ARAS Lithuania
BOA Poland
BSIJ Romania / Jandarmeria
Politiets Aktionsstyrke Denmark
DSI Netherlands
DSU Belgium
ATJ Lučko Croatia
EAO Cyprus
EKAM Greece
EKO Cobra Austria
ERU[4] Ireland
GIGN France / National Gendarmerie
GIOE Portugal / National Republican Guard
GIS Italy / Carabinieri
GEO Spain / National Police
GOE Portugal / Public Security Police
GSG 9 Germany / Federal Police
Karhu Finland
K-Commando Estonia
ÚOU (Lynx Commando) Slovakia
NI Sweden
NOCS Italy / National Police
OMEGA Latvia
RAID France / National Police
SEP/Red Panther Slovenia
SEK Germany / Landespolizei
Special Intervention Unit (SIU) Malta
SIAS Romania / National Police
SOBT Bulgaria
TEK Hungary
UEI Spain / Guardia Civil
URNA Czech Republic
USP Luxembourg
Víkingasveitin Iceland

See also

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 No. 2008/617/JHA of 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. The Jamestown Foundation. 5 (5). Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  4. Ferry, Declan (17 April 2013). "Garda crack squad that will protect Obama | Elite units on dry run for G8 summit". Irish Mirror Newspaper. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
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