Tackling the Foreign Fighter Threat in Europe
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  • Home
  • RESEARCH
    • CENTRES
    • Asia
    • Cybersecurity
    • Europe and Global Governance
    • Business Scenarios
    • Middle East and North Africa
    • Radicalization and International Terrorism
    • Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia
    • Infrastructure
    • PROGRAMMES
    • Africa
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Dossier
Tackling the Foreign Fighter Threat in Europe
Francesco Marone
09 January 2020

The conflicts in Syria and Iraq have attracted over 40,000 foreign fighters, who have travelled to these countries to join the ranks of the so-called Islamic State (IS) and other armed groups. 
Although accurate figures are not available, it is estimated that at least 5,000 jihadist foreign fighters came from Europe. Over 1,500 have already returned home, while at least 1,000 might still be in Syria and Iraq. These jihadist travelers include not only male adults, often with combat experience, but also women and children, with different backgrounds and motivations.

The extent of the threat and the measures to deal with foreign fighters vary greatly across Europe; both, however, gain even more relevance today, with the Middle East witnessing a new wave of instability and confrontation among political and military players.
Recognizing the importance of these differences, this ISPI Dossier aims to provide a thorough and updated overview of the foreign fighter threat in ten European countries or regions, ranging from Finland to the Western Balkans.

Tackling Italy’s Foreign Fighters
Francesco Marone
ISPI e University of Pavia
Foreign Fighters and the Terrorist Threat in Belgium
Rik Coolsaet
Egmont
,
Thomas Renard
Egmont
France and Foreign Fighters: The Controversial Outsourcing of Prosecution
Matteo Pugliese
ISPI Associate Research Fellow
Returning Western Balkans Foreign Fighters: A Long-Term Challenge
Adrian Shtuni
Shtuni Consulting
The Debate around Returning Foreign Fighters in the Netherlands
Goos Hofstee
Clingendael Institute
The Strategy of Germany for Handling Foreign Fighters
Jan Raudszus
Bremen State Police
The Case of Jihadi Foreign Fighters from Switzerland
Johannes Saal
University of Lucerne
Foreign Fighter Mobilisation to Syria and Iraq: The Case of Finland
Leena Malkki
University of Helsinki
,
Juha Saarinen
King’s College London
Foreign Fighters From Spain and the Criminalisation of Returnees
Fernando Reinares
Elcano Royal Institute and ISPI
The Response to the Return of Portuguese Foreign Fighters
Maria do Céu Pinto Arena
University of Minho

Read more:

What Does the Green Deal Mean For Russia?
Elena Maslova
MGIMO Associate Professor, Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sr Research Fellow
Next Generation EU: A Common Debt to Tackle the Crisis
Franco Bruni
ISPI
The MENA Region in 2021: The Road Ahead
The Pandemic in the Balkans: Geopolitics and Democracy at Stake
Giorgio Fruscione
ISPI Research Fellow
Terrorism Shakes Indonesia, Again
Fitriani
CSIS Indonesia
,
Dzaky Naradichiantama
CSIS Indonesia
A Pragmatic Shift: Evolving EU-Turkey Relations

Tags

terrorism Europe
Versione stampabile

EDITED BY

Francesco Marone
ISPI Associate Research Fellow and University of Pavia

This dossier is published by ISPI with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in accordance with Article 23- bis of the Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 18/1967. The opinions expressed are those of the authors. They do not reflect the opinions or views of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

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