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This report examines homeland security and counterterrorist measures in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The approaches of many European countries to protecting their publics and infrastructure have grown out of decades of experience in dealing with domestic terrorist groups. None of these European countries currently has a single ministry or department equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In most, responsibility for different aspects of homeland security and counterterrorism is scattered across several ministries, and inter-governmental cooperation plays a key role in addressing threats. In the UK, Germany, and Belgium, responsibility for homeland security affairs is also split among federal and regional or state governments. Originally published by the Congressional Research Service.