EU Justice Ministers Caution against Sports-Related Violence during Euro2020

European Union justice ministers meeting under the Portuguese presidency have called for close monitoring of risk supporters during the European football championships, stressing that the format of the competition already poses "a unique security challenge".

At a Council meeting on Monday (7 June) chaired by Portuguese Justice Minister Francisca Van Dunem in Luxembourg, ministers adopted conclusions on sports-related violence in which they highlight "the relevance of police cooperation and information exchange" during the Euro2020 "to ensure a safe and secure competition".

Justice officials from the 27 member states point out that "the new model chosen by UEFA" for Euro2020 - postponed until this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic - "poses a unique security challenge in itself, as the competition will take place in 11 European cities simultaneously".

The EU Council therefore argues that "monitoring the movement of high-risk - i.e. potentially problematic - supporters can be vital in preventing public disorder and associated criminal activity".

Thus, EU justice ministers call for "effective international cooperation through the deployment of specialised law enforcement observers as well as other liaison officers" and the use of digital platforms to exchange information, "particularly given that matches will take place in a number of European cities".

"The Council stresses the need for member states to increase the assessment of risk supporters, especially those with extremist ideologies, in order to identify, prevent and limit possible hostile and criminal activities during international sport events," reads the six pages of conclusions adopted today.

Considering that "cooperation between police detection [of problem...