Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents some findings from, but also goes beyond, a major FP7-funded study entitled Securing Europe through Counter-Terrorism: Impact, Legitimacy and Effectiveness (SECILE). It provides such an understanding, taking into account multiple operative, theoretical, doctrinal and practical perspectives and empirical evidence as to the impact, legitimacy and effectiveness of European Union (EU) counter-terrorism measures to date. The book establishes the doctrinal and theoretical framework by cataloguing existing measures and reviewing the institutional framework in place within Europe. It presents Europe as a security innovator in theoretical and operational terms. The book discusses various disciplinary understandings of the key concepts by drawing on legal, societal and democratic approaches. It complements this with a fresh perspective from operational end-users and civil society across three case studies.