The EU Global Threats programme is one of the European Union’s key initiatives to tackle major security threats around the world: from terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks, and threats to maritime security, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risks, and growing security risks linked to climate change.
Through a wide range of projects and facilities, we support partner countries and communities in building stronger institutions, preventing crises and promoting long-term peace and stability. The EU Global Threats programme is managed by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), putting EU foreign policy into action.
The EU Global Threats programme covers five key threat areas.
The EU Global Threats programme is promoting peace and stability through multiple projects.
Threats don’t stop at borders. Discover where the EU Global Threats programme is active.
Visual stories
On 26 April 1986, the Chornobyl disaster released radioactive material across Europe, leaving deep scars on communities and the environment. Yet from this tragedy emerged a critical lesson: CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) risks know no borders, and only through cooperation can we prevent and prepare for such threats.
Over the past 15 years the EU has turned those lessons into action. Through the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence, the EU has built a global network across 63 countries, united by a shared vision: global cooperation, responsible innovation, and adaptive governance.
In the spotlight
Each month, we feature one project from the EU Global Threats programme in our In the Spotlight section. This way, we highlight how EU action impacts people’s lives and translates into meaningful change on the ground.
This month, we’re focusing on EU CRIMARIO III, a multi-regional project strengthening maritime security across the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and beyond. Building on the IORIS information-sharing platform, the project enhances maritime domain awareness, inter-agency cooperation and operational coordination to counter piracy, armed robbery at sea, drug trafficking and other maritime threats.
Event highlight
The EU Crime Fighting Week 2026 brought partners together in Brussels to examine latest trends in organised crime and discuss how to ensure rule-of-law approaches and tech savvy responses. A week focused on action, trust and the rule of law. Fighting organised crime is not only a matter of enforcement, but also of legitimacy, public trust and institutional resilience.
Senior Narcotics Officer Francisca Ziniel leads rummaging operations against maritime trafficking at Ghana's Tema Port. With SEACOP's support, she trains fellow officers and champions women in port security.
- Threat area
- Fight against Organised Crime
- Events
- EU Crime Fighting Week 2026
Senior Narcotics Officer Francisca Ziniel leads rummaging operations against maritime trafficking at Ghana's Tema Port. With SEACOP's support, she trains fellow officers and champions women in port security.
- Threat area
- Fight against Organised Crime
- Events
- EU Crime Fighting Week 2026
22 biosecurity professionals from 11 East and Central African countries faced together a scenario training as part of the Regional Field Training Exercise (FTX ECA 26) organised jointly by Projects 106 and 99 of the European Union CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative
- Threat area
- CBRN Risk Mitigation
- EU CBRN CoE Region
- ECA - Eastern and Central Africa
Maritime officers from Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago trained side by side from 11 to 15 May 2026 in Santo Domingo, sharing a vessel, a methodology, and a common threat that ultimately reaches European shores.
- Threat area
- Fight against Organised Crime
From 27 April to 1 May 2026, Tashkent hosted the regional seminar “Complex exercises to test institutional preparedness”, organised by EU ACT (Action Against Organised Crime and Terrorism).
- Threat area
- Counter-Terrorism, Prevention of Violent Extremism
- Fight against Organised Crime
