On December 12, 2024, experts, policymakers, and industry leaders gathered in Brussels at the CERIS event titled “Securing Major Public Events” to address the growing security challenges posed by large-scale gatherings such as international sporting events, music festivals, and elections. Hosted at Le Bouche à Oreille and organised by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), the event provided a platform for discussing the latest advancements in security research, as well as the critical need for continued funding and innovation.
As public events become larger and more complex, they inevitably attract global attention and vast crowds, making them potential targets for a wide range of threats, from terrorism to cyberattacks. These escalating risks necessitate cutting-edge security measures that can evolve with emerging challenges. The event emphasized that without sustained investment in security research, the European Union (EU) risks falling behind in its ability to protect both its citizens and its high-profile gatherings.
The event kicked off with a keynote address followed by a discussion on the role of advanced technologies in securing major public events. Panel 1 delved into the growing importance of EU-funded research in developing innovative solutions.
Panel 2 focused on crisis management, a key aspect of securing high-profile events. Effective crisis management can make the difference between a safe event and one that faces disastrous consequences, and EU-supported research continues to play a crucial role in improving these systems.
One of the most thought-provoking sessions of the day was Panel 3, which addressed the ethical and legal implications of deploying advanced security technologies. Our GATHERINGS Coordinator Lucas Melgaço took part in this panel that explored the challenges of balancing public safety with privacy, data protection, and civil liberties. As new security technologies are introduced, concerns about surveillance and the potential for misuse of personal data grow.
This event counted as well with the presence of other GATHERINGS consortium partners such as Julie Caluwaerts from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Apostol Apostolov from the European Institute.
In a rapidly changing world of security threats, the event made clear that proactive investment and continued innovation are key to staying ahead of emerging risks, ensuring both the safety and the freedoms of citizens across Europe.