Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans: A Challenge to European Security
Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans: A Challenge to European Security

Summary/Abstract: The Western Balkans region has always been an area of great geopolitical and geostrategic importance both to the state and non-state actors. Following the civil wars which profoundly marked the last years of the 20th century, the countries in question entered the phase of transition, characterised by profound socio-political paralysis, economic crisis and hampered consolidation of the rule of law. The inadequacy of the social environment and inefficiency of the systems were crucial in creating the necessary prerequisites for the growing importance of religion, and nowadays for the success of Islamist propaganda in the region. As well as the neighbouring European countries, the region did not stay immune to the influence of the extremist narrative of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, resulting into a growing trend of departures towards the conflict zones in the Middle East. Despite the efforts made in relation to harmonization of — legal and operative frameworks according to internationally accepted instruments and standards entailed by the UN and EU strategies, the counter-terrorism response remains still inadequately due to the lack of knowledge and experience of the states when it comes to dealing with violent extremism. The transnational character and effects of the threat posed by returning fighters and “-Unaccomplished émigrés”, and as well as the fact that no country is immune to it, make the reinforcement of information-sharing platform and cooperation on European and international level as being imperative prerequisites for the creation of a stable counterterrorism response.

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