Atlas Network

The Atlas Network, formerly known as the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, is a nonprofit organization based in the United States. The group aims to promote free-market economic policies across the world. The stated mission of the Atlas Network is "To strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by identifying, training, and supporting individuals with the potential to found and develop effective independent organizations." The Atlas Network has awarded grants of over $20 million.

History

Atlas was founded in 1981 by Sir Antony Fisher. After founding the Institute of Economic Affairs in London in 1955, Fisher had helped to establish the Fraser Institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Pacific Research Institute in the 1970s. Fisher conceived of Atlas as a means to connect various think tanks via a global network through which the organizations could learn best practices from one another and "pass the best research and policy ideas from one to the other, and so avoid the need to reinvent the wheel." Atlas has been described as "self replicating, a think tank that creates think tanks."

ATLAS Network

The ATLAS Network is an informal association consisting of the special police units of the 28 states of the European Union. The goal of ATLAS is to improve cooperation among the police units and to enhance skills by training with the other units. The name ATLAS is a reference to the Titan Atlas from the Ancient Greek mythology.

History

In 1996 the Council of the European Union decided to establish a network which would increase skills, knowledge and expertise about counter-terrorism among the law enforcement agencies of the member states of the European Union. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 the ATLAS Network was formed in order to prevent similar attacks in Europe.

Sharing of expertise

On a regular basis meetings and joint exercises are conducted among the units.

Five project teams were created which consisted of special police units of four member states which specialized in certain areas.