Brussels – In 2025, the ATLAS network — which brings together the 38 special intervention units (SIUs) from EU Member States and associated countries (the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland), comprising around 4,000 personnel — has organised 50 activities in 33 countries, involving 1,500 operators.
Established in 2001 as an informal network for information exchange between counter-terrorism units and formalised in 2008 by an EU Council decision, ATLAS now aims to foster cross-border interoperability between units, share knowledge and experience, and facilitate cooperation during real-world operations, ensuring round-the-clock assistance between countries when national resources are insufficient to deal with a crisis. The network is organised into Expert Groups, which develop standard tactics and procedures on topics such as aircraft, buildings, the maritime environment and transport; thematic forums dedicated to areas such as command and control, breaching techniques, canine units, tactical medicine and negotiation; and operational projects, including the one on close protection tactics (CPT). Since 2018, the network’s Support Office has been based at Europol headquarters, which provides financial and logistical support for the dozens of exercises organised each year.
Italy plays a leading role in the network. The Carabinieri’s Special Intervention Group (GIS) leads the Aircraft Expert Group and hosted three international exercises in 2025: in February, in collaboration with the Italian Red Cross, 28 operatives from seven SIUs underwent training in medical capabilities on board aircraft; in November, a further ten units and the European networks EIFS and EEODN worked on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) threats, training 43 operatives.
The GIS also hosts the Aircraft Centre of Excellence in Livorno, established in 2019, and leads the CPT project. In March 2025, it coordinated an exercise involving 35 operatives from 17 units across EU Member States and the United Kingdom on close protection. Also in Italy, a Silent Team Forum exercise took place, focusing on free-fall parachute drops for silent approaches, involving 32 operators from eight SIUs.
The State Police, through the Central Security Operations Unit (NOCS), leads the K9 Forum, which is dedicated to canine units.
Looking ahead, Italy will take over the ATLAS network presidency. From 2027 to 2029, GIS’s Walter Calvi, currently vice‑president, will take the helm, succeeding Sweden’s Mårten Langer. This is a symbolic handover in the year marking the network’s 25th anniversary. The ATLAS network was established after the 11 September 2001 attacks to strengthen counter‑terrorism cooperation among European police forces.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
