Striking the balance between the protection of fundamental rights and the need to protect national security has been a challenge for all liberal democracies in times of emergency. Te same is true also for the European Union (EU). In fact, since the launch 20 years ago of the 1999 Tampere programme, implementing the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam, the EU has developed a common policy in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ), which led to the adoption of important pieces of legislation also concerning the fght against crime and international terrorism. At the same time, however, since 2000, the EU has been endowed with an advanced and comprehensive Charter of Fundamental Rights, which was given full primary law status by the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon.