COUNTRY CASE STUDIES CEUSS | Center for European Security Studies Andrea Jerkovic

INTRODUCTION The CPSI country case studies are based on the following data: Secondary analysis of EUROBAROMETER surveys, country information provided on official government websites, national security strategies, country risk analyses form non-governmental and business organisations.

AUSTRIA Realistic Fear of Crime and Security as a National Value Austrian citizen security culture can be described as marked by realistic fear of crime It seems that there is a less Europeanised feeling of security on the side of the citizens

BULGARIA Need for Public Information Bulgarian's majority have no trust in victimization data and do not believe that surveys do reflect reality People have a clear preference for EU as opposed to national decision-making and intervention in fighting crime

FRANCE A Country of Initiatives In the unitary semi-presidential republic, security is seen as a symbol of preserving the values acquired by the society as a whole The EU is a locus of fear of crime for some citizens in France

GERMANY Raised Security Awareness Germany’s security culture is somewhat focused on the state as security provider German citizens have exhibited a preference for EU as opposed to national decision-making and action in fighting crime

ITALY Comprehensive Risk Management Security policy is guided by the political norm of comprehensive risk assessment and management at the all-national level Citizens have a clear preference for European solutions to national crime problems

THE NETHERLANDS Security Crisis and Internationalism Security is interpreted as a task of the level of the state organization as a whole There is a clear preference for EU as opposed to national decision-making and action in crime fighting

SWEDEN Information & Security Awareness The security awareness and vulnerability are significant issues in the public, economy as well as political sectors Citizens’ preference for EU or national decision- making and action in crime fighting is fickle but the balance has recently been in favour of the EU.

UNITED KINGDOM Culture of Underfear in a Security Society The public culture of the country has even been characterised as that of a “surveillance society” This fact may account for the citizens’ clear preference for national as opposed to EU decision- making and action in crime fighting

CONCLUSION “Though public support for EU decision- making and action against crime has increased recently, the EU continues generally not to be perceived as a locus of successful interventions to enhance citizen security against crime.”