ATLAS Network

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Law enforcement units in the EU

title: "ATLAS Network" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["atlas-network", "law-enforcement-in-europe", "european-union"] description: "Law enforcement units in the EU" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATLAS_Network" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Law enforcement units in the EU ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox organization"]

FieldValue
nameATLAS
formation2001
statusTransnational Organization
purposePolice tactical unit co-operation
headquartersBrussels, Belgium
region_servedEurope
leader_titleChairman
main_organVarious Committees
parent_organizationEuropean Union
::

| name = ATLAS | image = | image_border = | size = | alt = | caption = | map = | msize = | malt = | mcaption = | abbreviation = | formation = 2001 | extinction = | type = | status = Transnational Organization | purpose = Police tactical unit co-operation | headquarters = Brussels, Belgium | location = | region_served = Europe | membership = | language = | leader_title = Chairman | leader_name = | main_organ = Various Committees | parent_organization = European Union | affiliations = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | budget = | website = | remarks =

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). Together, these top-tier units maintain a constant state of readiness, poised to respond to any security crisis in Europe at any time.

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:

::data[format=table]

CountryUnitPart ofNotes
AustriaEKO Cobra
Einsatzkommando Cobra
Task Force CobraFederal Ministry of the Interior
BelgiumDSU
Direction des unités spéciales
Directorate of Special UnitsFederal Police
BulgariaSOBT
Специализиран отряд за борба с тероризма
Special Counter Terrorism UnitMinistry of Interior
CroatiaATJ Lučko
Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko
Lučko Anti-Terrorist UnitCroatian Police
CyprusEAO
Mechanokiniti Monada Amesis Drasis
Emergency Response UnitCyprus Police
Czech RepublicURNA
Útvar rychlého nasazení
Rapid Response UnitPolice of the Czech Republic
DenmarkAKS
Politiets Aktionsstyrke
Special Intervention UnitDanish National Police
EstoniaK-Komando
Counter Terrorism UnitPolice and Border Guard Board
FinlandKarhu

References

References

  1. (23 June 2008). "On the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States of the European Union in crisis situations".
  2. (October 2008). "Seminar of the ATLAS network of European special intervention units".
  3. (2023-04-12). "ATLAS Network". European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL).
  4. (15 March 2007). "Europe's Emerging Counter-Terrorism Elite: The ATLAS Network". The Jamestown Foundation.
  5. "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism".
  6. (13 April 2023). "ATLAS Network".
  7. (1 September 2017). "Strengthening the ATLAS Network".
  8. (10 October 2018). "Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism".
  9. (12 April 2023). "ATLAS Network".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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