OSAC's Top 5 Security Trends in 2006 for the U.S. Private Sector in Europe

Contact: Kendal Smith
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OSAC Says Political Radicalism, Violent Activism, Corruption Among Growing Threats

Increased political radicalism, violent protests, and corruption were among the top security challenges of 2006 confronting U.S. businesses, nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions operating in Europe, according to a year-end analysis by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC).

"2006 was a defining year for the American private sector abroad," said Doug Allison, a Special Agent with the Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Executive Director of OSAC. "The threats from traditional sources - such as crime, terrorism and political instability, as well as from non-traditional, non-routine sources - such as acts of nature and potential global pandemics, have demonstrated that firms must incorporate security and risk management into their core business operations if they are to overcome these threats."

"Corporations that develop an internal culture of resiliency are better prepared than their international competitors to deal with predictable and catastrophic challenges," he said. "Such firms are better able to exploit opportunities in riskier environments and in the aftermath of a major event."

Over the past year, OSAC analysts noted an increase in political radicalism throughout Europe fueled by Islamist extremism and neo-Nazi-related and other extreme right-wing and nationalist movements.

2006 also saw violent anti-government demonstrations in France that began in late 2005, and in Hungary. And angry, but peaceful, demonstrations in several European countries over perceived slights to Islam demonstrated a potential for "anti-Western activism" among some groups there, OSAC said.

OSAC's regional specialists analyze information and develop informational products on security abroad that are then delivered to its private-sector members, explained Allison.

"By working with our OSAC partners, sharing our analysis, and pushing out our information, we aim to help the U.S. private sector better prepare for, respond to, and recover from the security challenges that may arise in 2007," said Allison.

The following is OSAC's list of the past year's top security challenges to the American private sector in Europe.

Top 5 Private Sector Security Issues for Europe Radicalism "Radicalism" incorporates several trends that OSAC monitored throughout the year, namely the rise in Islamist extremism across the continent, the extreme wing of animal rights organizations, and right-wing groups associated with skinhead and/or neo-Nazi violence. The presence and power of each of these entities increased in 2006. Militant Activism Violent activism was visible during disturbances in France that began in autumn 2005 and ended in January 2006 and were reportedly prompted by immigration and employment policies, and during anti-government protests in Budapest reportedly driven by flawed economic reporting. In addition, demonstrations across Europe in response to the Mohammed cartoon publication and Pope Benedict's remarks about Islam, although peaceful, underscored the potential for anti-Western activism in some of those countries. Corruption Corrupt business practices, particularly in parts of Eastern Europe, resulted in cases of unpredictable regulatory environments. Some operational challenges associated with corruption include providing protection for sensitive and proprietary information and ensuring compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Domestic Terrorism Domestic terror groups are active in Turkey and in the northern Caucasus region of southern Russia. The PKK in Turkey are thought to be responsible for several notable explosions in 2006 while the threat of terrorist attacks in the northern Caucasus constrained U.S. direct investment there. Anarchism The anarchist movement is especially notable in Greece, where anti-globalization groups frequently wage arson attacks against the Western private sector or Greek private and governmental interests. A host of anarchist attacks occurred in 2006; anarchists were thought to have participated in other protests in the region as well.

About OSAC

The Overseas Security Advisory Council was established in 1985 as a Federal Advisory Committee with a U.S. Government Charter to promote security cooperation between the U.S. Department of State and American business and private sector interests worldwide.

With a constituency of more than 3,500 U.S. companies and other private-sector organizations with overseas interests, OSAC operates a Web site (www.osac.gov), which offers its members the latest in safety- and security-related information, public announcements, warden messages, travel advisories, significant anniversary dates, terrorist group profiles, country crime and safety reports, special topic reports, foreign press reports, and much more.

The OSAC staff includes international security research specialists dedicated solely to serving the U.S. private sector. Additionally, OSAC has a network of 100 country councils around the world that brings together U.S. embassies and consulates with the local U.S. community to share security information.

OSAC is co-chaired by the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a selected representative of the private sector. The OSAC Executive Director is a Diplomatic Security Special Agent.

About The Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State's law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world.

In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel investigate passport and visa fraud, conduct personnel security investigations, and protect the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds.