Prevention of radicalisation in the EU: National experiences and best practice

The European Foundation for Democracy, in cooperation with the European Policy Centre (EPC) and the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) hosted a joint Policy Dialogue on 16 November.

The jihadist radicalisation phenomenon has been affecting in different ways various member states in the European Union. While in France and Belgium, the terrorist attacks have dramatically made clear the presence of jihadist cells ready to take action, foreign fighters from these and other countries have been joining the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq or in Libya. In order to respond to these developments, national and local authorities have addressed the emergence of radicalised individuals and/or organised groups with distinct approaches. This Policy Dialogue aims to answer a series of questions in order to make a case for these national experiences and their relevance for improving the response to jihadist radicalisation at European level. What are the lessons learned and best practice at national and local level in Belgium, Germany and the UK? How can other member states draw on these experiences and better apply them to their own context? Can the EU support existing and future synergies in this domain and accompany a common response to the jihadist radicalisation phenomenon? Our panel of experts addressed these questions as part of a series of Policy Dialogues in the framework of a joint EPC-EFD-CEP project on jihadist radicalisation and European policy responses.

The guest speakers included:

Toria Ficette, Regional coordinator on polarisation and radicalisation, Brussels Observatory for Prevention and Security; Hazim Fouad, Analyst, Unit for Islamism and extremism, Free Hanseatic City-State of, Bremen; Alexander Ritzmann, Chairman of the RAN Communication and Narrative Working Group, European Foundation for Democracy; Lucinda Creighton, Senior Consultant, Counter Extremism Project, Andrea Frontini, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (Moderator).