Recent years have witnessed changes in the manner in which we view borders and cross-border travel between member states of the European Union and their international partners. While these changes have transformed our way of life and how we travel they have also been exploited by those who would like to make this international cooperation crumble.

As was seen in the recent, deadly and heinous attack on innocent tourists in our neighbouring country, Tunisia, the threat of extremism is a reality.

Despite the fact that Tunisia went through democratic transition without the turmoil faced by its neighbouring states such as Libya, it still faced the vulnerabilities of the new phenomenon of cross-border terrorism and the so-called Foreign Terrorist Fighters.

Terrorists and other criminals are now availing themselves of the relatively easy modes of cross-border travel and likewise with regard to the ease of global communications. Freedom of speech, though essential for democratic life, is now being used as a weapon against democracy.

Extremist cells are now preying on the innocent minds of the young through popular social media and indoctrinating them into self-destructive beliefs and ideas. Education is another tool in the hands of States that needs to be used.

The rise and spread of terrorist propaganda can only be curtailed through proper international coordination and cooperation in law enforcement, judicial systems and educational campaigns.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) chose Malta as the ideal forum to launch the five-year UNODC Initiative on Criminal Justice Responses to Foreign Terrorist Fighters at the end of a three-day technical meeting in Valletta.

It was of course a pleasure to welcome this prestigious organisation and its partners in our shores and pledge our full support.

Although cross-border crime is not a new phenomenon, the recruiting of the Foreign Terrorist Fighters is one of the more novel aspects of cross-border crime.

This UN initiative recognises the need to have cross-border cooperation between law enforcement authorities among all states that are affected by the sudden rise in terroristic attacks.

There is an uncontested need to unite and stand up in order to bring these terrorists to justice. This target can only be met if it is based on criminal justice systems which are, in turn, founded on the earnest will to work together, to be more trustful of each other’s legal systems and to continually assist each other in the investigation and prosecution of such heinous crimes.

It is imperative for law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judicial institutions to help coordinate the investigation and prosecution of serious cross-border crimes.

To fight cross-border crime effectively and meaningfully one can no longer rely simply on one’s own domestic legal regime

The sharing of intelligence as well as ensuring police coordination paves the way for judicial cooperation which is indispensible in the fight against crimes of a cross-border nature.

In order to fight cross-border crime effectively and meaningfully one can no longer rely simply on one’s own domestic legal regime.

This realisation of the need of cooperation has led Malta to become a party to the major conventions dealing with offences related to terrorism as well as to enter into several bilateral agreements with the aim of combating organised crime such as terrorism and the funding of terrorism.

To this end, the Maltese government has been actively participating in fora such as the UN, Eurojust, Europol and the Council of Europe to obtain first-hand insight into the issues which assail peace and stability in criminal justice systems.

As proof of Malta’s international commitments, the government has passed two Acts which combat terrorism and the funding of terrorism.

A timely example is Act VIII of 2015 (amending the Criminal Code), which implements a UN Security Council resolution that calls on the members of the UN to reinforce their engagement against terrorism, that was published last week.

Maltese legislation now establishes as serious criminal offences the travel or attempt to travel for the purpose of the perpetration, planning, or preparation of, or participation in, terrorist acts’ or the providing or receiving of terrorist training; or financing of such travel or; organisation, or other facilitation, including acts of recruitment and dissemination of terrorist publications.

Apart from this ad hoc law, last month Parliament approved Act III of 2015, which further strengthened the existing offences related to terrorism and broadened the scope of the existing provisions  not merely to acts of terrorism but also to activities that are linked, directly or indirectly, to acts preparatory or conducive to terrorism offences.

Partnerships between judicial and prosecuting authorities and partnerships between intelligence and law enforcement agencies go beyond mere co-operation and collaboration. A true partnership which holds a positive prospect of succeeding in its common goals must be founded on the unwavering commitment to work and support each other despite different legal systems.

Malta remains firmly committed to assisting its neighbours in combating cross-border crime.

In the face of terror and disorder, which are aimed at creating international suspicion, the only option is defiance through international cooperation.

Owen Bonnici is Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government.