Belgrade Centre for Security Policy and Atlantic Initiative from Sarajevo are pleased to invite you to a virtual roundtable discussion “External actors’ efforts in preventing violent extremism in the Western Balkans – lessons learned and a look ahead”.
The discussion will be organized via Zoom platform on Tuesday, 19 January at 11AM (CET).
Speakers will introduce participants with the main conclusions presented in a policy brief summarizing EU and other stakeholders’ prevention strategies towards violent extremism in the Western Balkans. The policy brief outlines the dominant external approaches and narratives behind the prevention and countering of violent extremism. It is part of a wider research endeavor, conducted within the framework of the PREVEX project which gathers experts from EU, Western Balkans and MENA region, supported by the European Commission through Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Upon the presentation, participants are invited to engage in an interactive discussion and provide their views on the research findings, but also about the following questions:
- What are the lessons learned from international stakeholders’ engagement in addressing (violent) extremism and terrorism in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia?
- How (violent) extremism has evolved in the past three years? What are the dominant forms of (violent) extremism, major drivers, and their protagonists’ modus operandi?
- To what extent returning foreign fighters present a threat to their local community?
- To what extent different forms of extremisms reinforce each other?
- Counter-terrorism strategy in B&H expired in 2020, while in Serbia will come to an end this year. What are the effects of their implementation? How new strategies should be designed? What should they prioritize? How should new strategies build resilience to (violent) extremism?
Speakers:
Introductory note: Igor Bandović, BCSP Director
- Edina Bećirević, Atlantic Initiative, President
- Predrag Petrović, BCSP Programme Director
- Moderator: Marija Ignjatijević, BCSP Researcher
The event will be closed for public and conducted in accordance with the Chatham House Rule.
Please confirm your participation at office@bezbednost.org by Monday, 18 January the latest. The Zoom coordinates will be sent to you timely.
Should you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact BCSP Researcher Marija Ignjatijević at: marija.ignjatijevic@bezbednost.org or via phone at: +38164/456-000-7.
