Policing alone will not stop terrorists, Europe's cities say
To avert violent extremism, a long-term focus on prevention work is crucial.
The political leaders of the European Union's cities and regions have called for greater investment in policies to prevent radicalisation, as well as urging local, national and European authorities to "beef up" border controls and target areas where "various forms of organised crime are rife".
The recommendations are contained in an opinion commissioned by the European Committee of the Regions immediately after the terrorist attacks in Paris last November, which were carried out by European citizens who had previously fought in Syria. The opinion was drawn up by Bart Somers (BE/ALDE), the long-time mayor of Mechelen, a Belgian city from which there is no record of anyone leaving to fight in Syria.
While the EU's political assembly of local and regional authorities recommends more action against arms trafficking and funding of terrorist organisations, its principal message is that cities - as well as national and European authorities - need to invest in prevention work, "rather than pursuing a solely reactive, punitive policy".
"We need to be tough on crime, so that there are no parts of our cities where the rule of law is absent," said Mr Somers, who said that there is no Belgian city that invests so much in police as Mechelen. "But there is no silver bullet to the problem of violent radicalisation, and policing alone will not stop terrorists. Prevention is where local and regional authorities can help most, and this is also the most effective area in which to work, since you have to start by looking at root causes."
Mr Somers continued: "We know that people are vulnerable when they feel isolated from society. So, in schools, in homes, in workplaces, and in public life, we need to bind people to our communities and values. This is a long-term investment and it needs to be carefully managed. As we say in Dutch, trust arrives on foot, and rides away on a horse."
The opinion was welcomed by Gilles De Kerchove i, the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator, who called it a "major and valuable" contribution an "all-important debate in Europe".
"Soft policies should be also part of our strategy to fight against terrorism. One of the main lines of action is to prevent young people who have already been radicalised from carrying out atrocities such as those we saw in Paris in November and in Brussels in March," he said. "Local communities are in the best position to understand local factors that might make violent, radical ideas attractive, and to address those problems."
The opinion won cross-party support for its calls for more effective policing, for more cooperation between local, regional, national and European authorities, and for an approach based on respect for core principles. The EU's fundamental rights "must not under any circumstances be called into question, either by the totalitarian thinking of radical groups or as part of the steps taken to fight violent radicalisation", the opinion states.
The opinion also draws attention to the number of young women who have been radicalised. It calls for tougher action against sexual intimidation and for policies that emphasise gender equality. "Gender equality is a fundamental principle of the European model of society," Mr Somers said, "but I also think that strengthening our young women will bind them more strongly to our society."
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