The EU's anti-terrorist strategy and the return of foreign fighters in Europe

Abstract

The issue of foreign fighters and their potential threat to national security within the European Union has become a significant concern. Approximately 5,000 EU citizens who participated in the ongoing conflict in Syria are now returning home, prompting discussions among European and EU Member States regarding the potential risks posed by these individuals. This thesis explores the EU's and its Member States' anti-terrorist strategies and how their responses have evolved in dealing with foreign fighters. A thematic research method is applied to analyse this issue. The thesis conducts case studies focusing on the approaches of the European Union, France, and Germany to understand their strategies against foreign fighters. Through this method, the thesis seeks to understand the measures taken by these entities to address the threat posed by returning foreign fighters. Events like the 2015 Paris and 2016 Brussels attacks, suspected to involve returning FFs, highlight the severity of the threat. The differing approaches of top countries of origin, like France and Germany, offer insights into effective counter-terrorism measures. This research aims to analyse France and Germany's strategies, shedding light on the effectiveness of diverse counter-terrorism approaches and EU initiatives in addressing the FFs threat