Tackling the Foreign Fighter Threat in Europe
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  • RESEARCH
    • CENTRES
    • Asia
    • Cybersecurity
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    • Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia
    • Infrastructure
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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:

The EU, America and NATO’s New Strategic Concept: Not Just “Back to the Past”
Gianluca Pastori
Catholic University of Milan and ISPI
EU and US: Cyber Friends or Digital Foes?
Alberto Guidi
ISPI
EU-US Trade and Technology Council: A Litmus Test for Transatlantic Cooperation
Ophélie Coelho
Insitut Rousseau
A Transatlantic Approach to Digital Sovereignty
Alberto Guidi
ISPI
EU Strategic Compass: The Right Direction for Europe?
Andrea G. Rodríguez
European Policy Centre (EPC)
Cyber Capacity Building: Security, Innovation, and Growth in the Mediterranean Region
Roberto Baldoni
Italian National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN)

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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