Recent terrorist attacks have focused on a variety of public places, including shopping
malls, concert halls, sports arena, pedestrian areas and transport hubs. These attacks used
different attack modes ranging from the traditional firearm and explosive attacks to
improvised stabbing and vehicle ramming.

The European Commission has stepped up its support to Member States to address these
threats and to enhance protection of public spaces. In this context the EU Action Plan to
support the protection of public spaces was adopted on 18 October 2017.

As part of this Action Plan, the European Commission has set up an Operators’ Forum to
support the protection of public spaces. This Forum brings together representatives of EU
Member States and representatives of the various private and public operators
responsible for these public spaces.

On 20 December 2017, the first Operators’ Forum meeting took place and on 21
December 2017, DG HOME organised the first Operators’ Forum subgroup meeting in
order to address issues in the car rental sector.

On 18 June 2018, DG HOME will organise the Operators’ Forum subgroup meeting on
mass events/entertainment in Brussels to explore possible actions that could be taken in
cooperation with the entertainment sector with the objective to enhance the protection of
public spaces, where mass events are hosted, from terrorist threats.

We invite you to share your ideas, initiatives and needs in this meeting (contact info@elmnet.org)