ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism

Key points

The EESC:

• states that violent extremism in all its forms – be it right wing, left wing, religious or hybrid – poses a serious threat to democratic societies and requires a comprehensive response;
• acknowledges that jihadist terrorism remains the biggest and most persistent evolving threat, often decentralised and intertwined with criminal structures; this calls for continued vigilance and targeted prevention;
• expresses particular concern about the rapid rise of right-wing extremism and its potential for future terrorist attacks, which requires strengthened preventive and operational capacities;
• stresses that antisemitism, anti-Muslim racism, xenophobia, misogyny and other sexist hatred are key drivers of radicalisation and must be addressed through comprehensive preventive and protective measures;
• identifies the world of work as an underutilised space for prevention, highlighting the role of social dialogue and inclusive workplace cultures in strengthening democratic resilience;
• underscores the specific needs of victims of terrorism and supports the establishment of an EU-wide network of national contact points for assistance in judicial and compensation processes;
• notes that fragmentation among security, judicial and emergency actors undermines effectiveness; the EESC calls for better institutionalised cooperation, including the systematic involvement of civil society and victims’ associations in particular;
• highlights that democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and an active civil society are not only values to be protected but also essential instruments for preventing radicalisation, strengthening societal resilience and enhancing Europe’s security. The EESC is concerned that current EU approaches are relying too heavily on repressive measures and do not do enough to address root causes or to boost prevention and civil society participation;
• therefore calls for a balanced, comprehensive strategy that places prevention, democratic resilience and civil society engagement on an equal footing with security measures.