The European Parliament on 19 May 2026 debated the attack in Modena and broader public space protection, with MEPs staking out divergent positions on the balance between enhanced security and fundamental rights. Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson outlined existing EU tools and announced a forthcoming proposal on public space security guidelines.
EPP's Alessandra Mussolini condemned the violence and called for stronger EU coordination on surveillance and police cooperation, arguing that citizens expect concrete security measures. S&D's Pietro Bartolo stressed the need to address root causes like social exclusion and radicalization, pushing for prevention over securitization. Renew's Anna Júlia Donáth urged balanced measures respecting fundamental rights, while Greens-EFA's Alice Bahnke warned against disproportionate surveillance and called for community-based approaches. ECR's Nicola Procaccini backed enhanced security but questioned EU competence, and The Left's Manon Aubry criticized framing the attack as terrorism, arguing it distracts from social failures.
No formal decision was taken; the debate feeds into a resolution vote later in the week. The forthcoming guidelines will affect local authorities, law enforcement, civil liberties groups, and citizens in public spaces, with trade-offs between security effectiveness and privacy protections.