MOSCOW (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov – Europol's ECTC was launched on Monday in accordance with the European Agenda on Security 2015-2020. The center was created in light of the most significant terrorist threat in over a decade, according to Europol. The agency estimates that the threat of terrorist attacks in Europe remains high and the newly-created body aims to strengthen the EU response to extremism, help dismantle terrorist networks and monitor foreign fighters.
"It is not possible to give an exact budget for the ECTC. The budget of the Centre is part of the overall operational budget of Europol. However… just the personnel costs for the 40+ staff members of the ECTC estimate some EUR 7.5 million [$8 million] a year," the Europol official said.
The center's specialists will deal with criminal intelligence and organized crime as well as offering assistance in investigating terrorist attacks and coordinating cross-border special operations targeting terrorist suspects together with the security services of EU member states.
Headquartered in the Hague, ECTC will be led by Manuel Navarrete Paniagua, a high-ranking officer in the Spanish Guardia Civil.
