Security Union: €23 million of EU funds to enhance the protection of places of worship and other public spaces

Today, the Commission will grant €23 million to Member States and religious communities to enhance the protection of places of worship and other public spaces from terrorist threats, as part of the new Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU. Ten projects will receive funding under the Internal Security Fund–Police. Nine of them will receive €20 million worth of funds and will involve entities from 20 Member States. These projects will focus on the protection of places of worship belonging to different faith communities (churches, synagogues, mosques); the protection of other types of public spaces such as public transport systems and major sports venues; and the detection of threats by detection dogs. Finally, €3 million will fund a project to test solutions countering possible threats posed by drones. The Commission plans to organise a conference on the protection of public places and places of worship in early spring to present the selected projects to the public.