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 European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, in collaboration with the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and EEAS, co-hosted the event Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in Children and Youthin Brussels.
The event offered a platform to connect research with experiences from the field: it combined insights from RC25 presentations, experiences from young beneficiaries and active participants in PCVE programmes both in Europe and abroad.
To mark the 15th anniversary of the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative, the EU brought together more than 100 responders from 10 countries in Ungheni, Moldova for Bordershield 25, a large-scale, real-life simulation to test and improve regional readiness against CBRN threats.
- Threat area
- CBRN Risk Mitigation
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a major step to strengthen its national capacity to prevent, investigate and prosecute Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) crimes through a comprehensive programme of exercises and training, implemented under the EU CBRN CoE initiative.
- Threat area
- CBRN Risk Mitigation
EMISA brought together experts from EU Member States and partner countries through a series of joint activities, followed by its annual co-chairs meeting. These engagements demonstrated how thematic expertise can be connected to address cross-cutting security challenges.
- Threat area
- Counter-Terrorism, Prevention of Violent Extremism
As part of Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national coordination mechanisms in the field of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation, the National CBRN Working Group convened on 9 December 2025.
- Threat area
- CBRN Risk Mitigation
A flagship project of the EU Global Threats programme to combat terrorism ends with closing conference in Brussels. The event brought together more than 100 participants from over 25 countries to review achievements, share lessons learned, and discuss how to sustain the results for future projects.
- Threat area
- Counter-Terrorism, Prevention of Violent Extremism
