European Forum for Urban Security

The European Forum for Urban Security (EFUS) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with 300 participating local authorities. It aims at reinforcing crime prevention policies and promoting the role of local authorities in the development of national and European policies.

The organisation was created in 1987 in Barcelona, under the aegis of the Council of Europe and led by Gilbert Bonnemaison, former Mayor of Épinay-sur-Seine and co-creator of the French crime prevention policy.

Goals

EFUS aims to:

Reinforce security policies through crime prevention strategies and cooperation among authorities
Increase the role of municipalities and locally elected representatives in creating local security policies
Align local security policies with the European model

Associations and Coalitions

EFUS works with the majority of the 27 member states of the European Union and has consultative status with the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Since 2003 EFUS has been part of a coalition on human trafficking and another on “political needs for pertinent data in criminology and criminal justice fields”.^{[citation needed]}

EFUS is also co-founder and secretary of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC), and a member of the International Scientific and Professional Advisory (ISPAC) of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme. In 1998, the Efus was awarded an honorific prize by the United Nations Settlements Programme. In other continents, the Forum supports the creation of national Forums especially in Africa and Southern America.

Activities

EFUS works on all major issues related to urban safety. It is also charged with developing a network of European local authorities through the exchange of practices and knowledge, cooperation and training. In addition to linking local authorities in Europe, EFUS connects local authorities and institutions at a national, European and international level. EFUS promotes the work of locally elected officials throughout its programmes, publications and research.

The Saragossa manifesto

800 representatives from 220 European cities, met in Saragossa from 2–4 November 2006 to adopt the Saragossa manifesto “Security, Democracy and Cities” in the presence of African, North American, Latin American and Asian cities. Non-European representatives were invited to join those present by signing and implementing the guidelines of this document.

Safety is an essential public asset closely linked to other public assets such as social inclusion and the right to employment, healthcare, education and culture. It is necessary to replace all fear-based strategies with others that promote an active community spirit, an adaptation of the urban territory and the collective development of coexistence. The access to rights fosters the right to security.
— Saragossa manifesto, 2006

EFUS Executive Committee

EFUS is led by an Executive Committee of representatives from 21 cities, elected annually by the member authorities. The current President is Guilherme Pinto, Mayor of Matosinhos.

National Forums

National Forums were created in:

Membership

Members of EFUS benefit from the following:

Access to a vast network of security knowledge, experts, contacts and experiences
Connections with more than 300 local authorities throughout Europe
Participation in European projects, thematic seminars, training sessions and international conferences (such as Paris 1991, Naples 2000, Saragossa 2006)
Adapted training sessions, advice and technical assistance on security issues
Privileged access to European urban security best practices online

External links