Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Preventing radicalisation to terrorism and violent extremism: strengthening the EU’s response

Since the EU strategy for combating radicalisation and recruitment was last updated in 2008, the trends, means and patterns of radicalisation have evolved and broadened.

Firstly, terrorism in Europe now finds its inspiration in a larger variety of ideologies, as illustrated by the 2013 Europol TE-Sat report. These include nationalist and separatist ideologies, those inspired by Al Qaida, violent left-wing, anarchist, and right-wing ideologies.

Secondly, terrorist and violent extremist activities in the EU are not the exclusive domain of centralised and hierarchical organisations. The threat has progressively evolved to include smaller EU-based groups, cells, and lone actors operating in a more unconstrained and unpredictable way. They plan attacks with limited or no direction from an organisation, making prevention even more difficult.

Many terrorists planning attacks on European soil are themselves Europeans. Such attacks cause more than loss of life and economic damage; they can sow the seeds of division between communities in Europe, giving rise to increasingly reactionary and extremist views in other parts of society. This contributes to a breeding ground for extremism, perpetuating a vicious circle of radicalisation, aggression, and violent responses.

Europe is also directly affected by terrorist activity around the world. Europeans can be victims of attacks, as the recent atrocities in Nairobi made clear. But they can also be the perpetrators of these attacks. Often set on the path to radicalisation in Europe by extremist propaganda or by recruiters, Europeans travel abroad to train and to fight in combat zones, becoming yet more radicalised in the process.

Terrorist groups and extremists are capitalising on advances in technology to find new ways of engaging with disaffected youth, taking advantage of social networking sites, online video channels and radical chat rooms. They are spreading their propaganda more widely, more rapidly, and more effectively.

Traditional law enforcement techniques are insufficient to deal with the evolving trends in radicalisation, and so a broader approach is required to prevent and counter radicalisation. This broader approach responding to trends in radicalisation must engage the whole of society.

This Communication addresses radicalisation in all of its forms and identifies areas encompassing a broad spectrum of measures to prevent and counter radicalisation to terrorism and violent extremism.

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)941: Follow the progress of this communication through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:941:FIN

ESO: Background information: Adoption of a Communication identifying areas of action against extremism and violence http://www.europeansources.info/record/adoption-of-a-communication-identifying-areas-of-action-against-extremism-and-violence/

---