Combatting terrorism: an ongoing threat and a coordinated response
A Multifaceted Threat with Complex Ramifications
“For all European Union Member States, Sunni jihadism remains the predominant threat. Numerous terrorist plots have been foiled through the remarkable work of the intelligence services, and I congratulate the French services in particular. This threat has both foreign and domestic origins. This is why we must remain vigilant and hone our knowledge of the different regions of the world where the threat is developing. Three areas have been identified: Central Asia, the Middle East, particularly Syria, and the Sahel,” says Bartjan WEGTER. “Another growing concern is the radicalisation of the far right, which is notably affecting a fringe section of Europe’s young people. As this is a cross-border phenomenon, it requires a European and international response, as there are often transatlantic links.” Increased international and inter-state tensions are also leading to a form of exploitation of the terrorist threat. “This is an evolution: beyond radical groups, certain countries, like Russia and Iran, no longer hesitate to use hybrid tactics combining terrorism and organised crime to undermine European democracies and their values,” says Bartjan WEGTER. The European Coordinator also continues to monitor the threat from the far left – though less noticeable at the moment, it is nonetheless present in some Mediterranean Member States – as well as any violent extremist movements.
Countering the Spread of Terrorism Online
“Daesh, particularly its Khorasan province branch, has successfully harnessed digital tools to expand its influence in Europe and attempt to radicalise part of the population, especially young people," says Bartjan WEGTER.. The rise of artificial intelligence poses new risks, particularly with the creation of propaganda videos that rapidly spread to a very wide audience. "New technologies are developing so quickly that it is sometimes very difficult to keep up in terms of legislation. So we really need extremely close cooperation with the private sector, which has highly specialised expertise in this area. We must work together to fully understand the potential impact of new technologies on terrorism. Today, we have no problem identifying content labelled as ‘terrorist’. However, the terrorist nature of certain content is sometimes less obvious. Inciting hatred or extreme violence may not strictly qualify as terrorism, but it is still a concern because such online behaviour contributes to a form of radicalisation and increasing polarisation in our societies," says Bartjan WEGTER.. This is particularly true in view of the current sharp decline in platforms' moderation capabilities, which is a serious issue for the European Union. “As regards the radicalisation of young people, the falling number of moderators is very harmful. We have attempted to discuss this aspect with platforms, but without much success. We have a responsibility to enforce the rule of law online as well, which, given our current legislation, cannot be done without the support of digital platforms and social media," the European coordinator continues.
Cooperating with Third Countries
In West Africa, the Sahel is the main focus of international security concerns. Europe is making targeted efforts in this area, despite often fragile diplomatic relations. "The Sahel remains the epicentre of global terrorism. We ignore this region at our peril. Although relations with some of these countries are still complicated at present, we are continuing to develop cooperation where possible, as we must prevent the threat from spreading at all costs. The EU shares its best practices in regional cooperation, particularly to support West African countries in addressing the challenges they face. However, these countries were not previously as directly affected by the terrorist threat, and it takes time to develop a culture of information sharing or best practices at regional level to combat terrorism. This is where we come in. We have also set up a security and defence mission, deploying civilian and military experts to Côte d'Ivoire, Benin and Ghana. We are also keen to cooperate further with Togo. This enables us to adopt a more tailored and differentiated response, depending on the specific needs of each country," says the European Counter-Terrorism Coordinator.
The Challenges that will Dominate the Agenda in the Coming Years
Bartjan WEGTER has already pinpointed several challenges he needs to tackle to complete his mission successfully. "Preventing the radicalisation of young people remains one of my priorities. This trend is only getting stronger, as we can see all over the world. We must also continue to fight against foreign interference by certain countries, with Russia and Iran at the top of the list. This does not fall exclusively within my remit, but this hybrid threat requires a coordinated approach in finding an appropriate response that covers all its aspects and forms. International cooperation is obviously crucial in combatting terrorism because, as we are aware, it knows no boundaries. We must use existing forums for dialogue, including those of the United Nations, to unite our forces wherever the terrorist threat appears," says Bartjan WEGTER.