“Preparatory action” in the sector of citizens’ security: the Commission has adopted a Communication, with the title “Towards a programme of promotion of European security for research and technology”, with the aim of coordinating at the Community level research activities in three fundamental fields: protection against terrorism (including bioterrorism); improving crisis management; reinforcement of the security, reliability, protection and interchange of systems of communication between the civilian and military authorities of the EU. The initial phase of the programme which will end in 2006 will have a budget of 65 million euros and be under the responsibility of the general Directorates for Research and for the Information Society. The first projects, of which the final beneficiaries are especially governments, agencies for security and non-governmental organizations in the sector, can be presented beginning in March this year.
