The European Commission (EC) presented further steps on Tuesday to support member states in preventing and countering violent radicalization leading to terrorism.
The steps are part of the EC’s European Agenda on Security.
“Recent terrorist attacks have shown how some young Europeans have fallen prey to an ideology of death and destruction, breaking away from their own families and friends and turning against their own societies,” Frans Timmermans, first vice president of the EC, said. “This calls for a determined response by society as a whole, to prevent radicalization and strengthen the ties that bind us together. The EU should help wherever it can.”
The commission outlined seven specific steps where cooperation at the European Union (EU) can bring added value, including countering terrorist propaganda and illegal hate speech online, addressing radicalization in prisons, promoting inclusive education and EU common values, promoting an inclusive and open society while reaching out to young people, strengthening international cooperation, boosting research and evidence building while also monitoring networks, and focusing on the security dimension.
Approximately 4,000 EU nationals are estimated to have joined terrorist organizations in countries experiencing conflict like Syria, Iraq and Yemen. A majority of the perpetrators of the recent European terrorist attacks were EU citizens, born and raised within member states.