European

Forum for
Urban
Security

PRACTICIES
Partnership Against Violent
Radicalisation in Cities
European project
A group of European cities work together
to prevent violent radicalisation
 Table of contents
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Foreword.........................................................................p. 4

Efus and radicalisation................................................ p. 6

The PRACTICIES project............................................. p. 8

A selection of tools produced

by the PRACTICIES project........................................p. 13

Tackling radicalisation: challenges

and opportunities for local and regional
authorities....................................................................p. 20

Recommendations for local authorities...................p. 22

3
 Foreword
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In recent years, there has been increasing concern among European cities’ and responsible manner, with a focus on a cohesive discourse that does
population and governing bodies about the rise of radicalisation and not stigmatise any population group.
violent extremism, which has led local authorities to consider these issues
In the face of terror attacks, the political reaction should not be emotion-
as key priorities in their crime prevention strategies. In particular, they are
ally driven, but based on rational analysis and evidence. In this respect, it
keen to understand the underlying processes of radicalisation in order to
is particularly important to identify the sociological and individual mecha-
better prevent them.
nisms at play in radicalisation processes.
For more than 30 years, Efus has advocated a balanced approach combin-
Finally, given the global and cross-border nature of violent extremism, a
ing prevention, sanction and social cohesion to address the causes of
concerted and coordinated response between European cities is essential.
crime and better prevent it. Given that the risk factors of common crime
Indeed, the propaganda tools, recruitment processes and pathways to
and of violent radicalisation are in many ways similar, it is logical that the
radical violence are transnational and, therefore, preventive responses
prevention of the latter be included in any comprehensive crime preven-
must also be deployed across borders.
tion strategy. Therefore, cities must not only address the specific issue of
radicalised and violent individuals, but also include their strategy for the The European PRACTICIES (“Partnership Against Violent Radicalisation
prevention of radicalisation into their overall local, integrated security in Cities”) project, launched in 2017 with the financial support of the
policy. European Commission, is a concrete response to these challenges and an
illustration of these principles. During three years, it examined the phe-
Alongside the work carried out by the police and the justice system, local
nomenon of radicalisation in all its different facets and developed concrete
prevention policies must be based on strong local partnerships and aim at
tools that European cities can use to locally prevent radicalisation,
strengthening the resilience of individuals and groups against the risks of
adapting them to their needs and particular contexts. In doing so, Efus
radicalisation.
fulfils its founding mission of fostering cooperation and exchanges among
As the level of governance closest to citizens on the ground, local authori- European local authorities on all issues of urban security and crime
ties are particularly well placed to implement such policies and mobilise prevention.
all the relevant local actors.
Another crucial aspect is the need to respect fundamental freedoms in all
Elizabeth Johnston
circumstances, not only as a matter of democratic principle but also
Efus Executive Director
because it is a key component of the social contract and of social cohesion.
Indeed, society should not have to choose between freedom and security;
the two go hand in hand and it is the responsibility of European local au-
thorities to uphold such fundamental values. From this follows the need to
tackle all forms of violent extremism and to communicate in a balanced

4 5
 Efus and radicalisation ductive and much-needed involvement of cities in European radicalisation
prevention policies. At the same time, European local authorities became
more aware of the importance of their role and the need for developing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> local prevention strategies. Adopted in 2017 by 60 mayors from 18 coun-
tries and promoted jointly by Efus and the Euromed network, the Declara-
Founded in 1987 and now an association gathering 250 European local
tion of Nice advocates for more recognition of the role of local authorities,
and regional authorities, the European Forum for Urban Security (Efus)
in particular through better representation within European consultative
has a long track record in preventing radicalisation, violent extremism and
bodies and increased financial support in order to effectively implement
terrorism. As early as 2006, in its Manifesto of Zaragoza, Efus’ members
preventive and educational actions.
claimed that local authorities have a key role to play in these efforts and
advocated an approach based on social cohesion and inclusivity, far from In line with its commitment to cross-border collaborative work between
“favouring discriminatory actions, designating scapegoats or encouraging local and regional authorities, Efus is a partner or member of several mul-
aggressive, racist attitudes.” That same year, Efus coordinated a first ti-stakeholder partnerships, including the Alliance of European Cities
European cooperation project on the topic, Cities Against Terrorism (CAT), Against Violent Extremism (an initiative promoted by the Congress of
which concluded in 2007. Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe), the Strong Cities
international network, and the EU’s Radicalisation Awareness Network
Following the framework created by the European Union in its 2005
(RAN). Efus’ participation in RAN consists mainly in contributing to ex-
Counter-terrorism Strategy, Efus has been fostering the exchange of expe-
changes between the various RAN working groups, their experts and
riences and good practices among European local authorities, strengthen-
projects led by Efus on topics of interest to both parties.
ing cooperation and increasing shared capabilities to tackle violent
extremism. Since then, it has led or taken part in a long series of collabora- This pioneering work gave rise to a series of projects on the prevention of
tions and projects. radicalisation and violent extremism that further developed and promoted
the impact local authorities can have with regard to specialised prevention
In 2014, when the phenomenon of radicalisation leading to violent ex-
approaches, such as Local Voices (2018-2019) and Local Young Leaders for
tremism had become more prevalent in European cities and the risk of
Inclusion (LouD, 2019-2020), which work with youngsters to promote al-
terrorist attacks had intensified, Efus embarked on its Local Authorities
ternative narratives and build resilience, or the project Building Resilience to
Against Violent Extremism (LIAISE) projects. LIAISE 1 (2014-2016) and 2
Reduce Polarisation and Growing Extremism (BRIDGE, 2019-2020), which
(2017-2018) mobilised more than 30 partners – local authorities, NGOs
develops a methodology to monitor and mitigate polarisation at the local
and research institutions – who worked together to clarify and reinforce
level. The PRACTICIES project, which sought to better understand the root
the potential of local prevention initiatives, identifying local multi-agency
causes of radicalisation and to prevent its spread, is yet another example of a
partnerships, family support, resilience-building, de-radicalisation, disen-
pan-European project in which Efus played a leading role.
gagement, and counter-narratives as key topics for cities to work on. They
rolled out local pilot prevention projects across Europe, assembled a As it has done in other publications on the issue of radicalisation, Efus
database of promising practice examples, and produced two handbooks hopes this brochure will provide concrete insights and tools for local and
with methodological guidance. regional authorities across Europe.

This practical work was accompanied by a series of political resolutions

adopted by Efus’ executive committee, which further promoted the pro-

6 7
 The PRACTICIES project It also aimed to identify good intervention or prevention practices that
address violent radicalisation at a European, national and local level, and
ultimately to develop effective actions and innovative tools against
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> radicalisation.

Radicalisation and violent extremism pose serious security challenges for Finally, the project mobilised networks of European cities and experts
governments and society at large not only because they may lead to terror- from the fields of humanities and political and information sciences with
ist attacks such as those perpetrated throughout Europe (and other the objectives of better understanding the “human roots of radicalisation”,
regions) in the past few years, but also because they divide society and characterising these processes and their origins, and building concrete
instil fear and suspicion. In order to efficiently prevent and curb this dele- prevention tools and practices.
terious phenomenon, it is necessary to involve civil society as much as
possible, alongside law enforcement agencies, academics and other pro-
fessionals, notably those working in the fields of research and technology. More specifically, the project set the following objectives:

The “Partnership Against Violent Radicalisation in Cities” (PRACTICIES) 1. To document risk and protective factors
network was the result of a call for projects issued by the European Union. 2. 
To understand communication processes that promote or limit the
Set up in 2017, it gathered more than 25 partners – academic and research spread of radical discourse
institutions as well as national governments and regional and local au-
3. To identify good intervention and prevention practices around radicali-
thorities – from several European countries (Austria, Belgium, Greece,
sation leading to violence
Italy, Portugal, Spain) as well as Tunisia. This vast partnership allowed the
project to cover a wide range of fields of expertise, notably humanities, 4. To evaluate research or action programmes on radicalisation leading to
psychology, political science, information science, and information violence
technology.
5. To evaluate and develop programmes to strengthen social cohesion
6. To create spaces for discussion and exchange between academic and
social stakeholders in order to better understand the phenomenon of
Objectives of the project radicalisation leading to violence

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7. 
To strengthen theoretical, methodological and practical exchanges
between researchers, stakeholder networks and cities

The PRACTICIES project aimed to understand radicalisation in order to 8. To participate in political decision-making with the aim of improving
better anticipate its occurrences and intervene as early as possible in this the safety of cities.
negative process. Our research and the professional assessment of practi-
tioners allow to reduce the risk of violent radicalisation and improve urban
security in the project’s partner cities. PRACTICIES contributed to tackling
one of the biggest challenges faced by European cities: empowering and
engaging civil society, particularly the most vulnerable, and thus becoming
more inclusive and diverse.

8 9
 The PRACTICIES Working Group of Cities In their own words: the benefits of
PRACTICIES according to the members
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of the Working Group of Cities
In order to create a link between on the one hand PRACTICIES’ 25 re-
search and institutional partners1 and on the other the project’s end-users,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
i.e. European local and regional authorities, Efus set up a Working Group What benefits and insights did the members of the Working Group of
of Cities. It was composed of eight European cities: Amadora (Portugal), Cities gain from the PRACTICIES project? We have summarised here the
Augsburg (Germany), Berlin (Germany), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Spain), main points mentioned by members of the Working Group of Cities fol-
Nice (France), Riga (Latvia), Salzburg (Austria), and Solna (Sweden). lowing the work carried out over three years, notably through four work-
For three years, this Group of Cities worked to identify their specific needs shops organised across Europe and various dissemination events.
concerning the prevention of radicalisation at the local level and to ensure
that the project’s outputs matched those needs in a concrete, pragmatic
manner. Rich exchanges among local stakeholders throughout Europe
Over the course of the project, three other Efus members joined the Working The project created a platform for discussion among local stakeholders
Group of Cities to contribute their views. These were the cities of Liège involved in preventing radicalisation at the local level in several European
(Belgium) and Lyon (France) and the regional government of Calabria (Italy). cities and countries. Furthermore, the project partners were able to meet a
wide array of professionals working in the prevention of radicalisation
The Working Group of Cities had four main objectives:
through study visits, round tables and workshops organised across
1. To define the main threats posed locally by radicalisation that affect Europe. All these exchanges have shaped an extended network that will
local and regional authorities live on after the project and keep on disseminating its outcomes.
2. To learn about the work carried out through the other strands of the Furthermore, the project’s partners have also participated, or are currently
project (i.e. the “work packages”), which predominantly consisted of taking part, in other European projects on the prevention of radicalisation
tools to help local authorities tackle local issues of radicalisation or in specialised European networks such as the EU’s Radicalisation
3. To draft recommendations that would help local and regional authori- Awareness Network (RAN). There is thus a feedback loop between PRAC-
ties adjust their local prevention policies against radicalisation TICIES and other European projects that enhances the capacities of
European local authorities to address the phenomenon of radicalisation.
4.To design a communication strategy in order to disseminate the pro-
ject’s results among European local and regional authorities, not only Another long term benefit is that there has been cross-fertilisation between
within the Efus network but also beyond. the partner local authorities and the European institutions.

Exchanging promising practices

One of the key benefits of PRACTICIES was that it enabled participants to
exchange their on-the-ground practices regarding the prevention of radi-
calisation. Being able to compare the strategies and practices carried out in
1. The full list of the PRACTICIES partners is available page 30 other cities and countries and gaining knowledge on the specific context of

10 11
 different local and regional authorities throughout Europe brings long- A better understanding of local strategies
term benefits that cannot be measured but are undeniable. By working together on the prevention of radicalisation, local and regional
Furthermore, the project has brought European-level visibility to the strategies authorities have gained knowledge of each other’s local strategies. Discus-
put in place by the PRACTICIES participants. This has been made possible in sions held within the Working Group of Cities as well as with the other
particular through the series of fact sheets that were produced through the members of the PRACTICIES consortium have produced interesting reflec-
project and shared at European level. This formalised exchange of practices also tions on the challenges ahead and the ways to overcome them. Participants
goes a long way towards promoting among European institutions the important re-examined their priorities and identified new ones. Also, they discussed at
role played by local authorities in the efforts to prevent radicalisation. length the difficulties professionals involved in tackling radicalisation face in
their daily work. This also fed into the reflection and re-calibrating of their
strategy for the prevention of radicalisation. One finding emerged on which
In-depth knowledge of the phenomenon of radicalisation everybody strongly agreed: the need to work across the board and collabora-
Exchanges among the project’s participants but also with its associate tively to implement a prevention strategy (i.e. local/regional authority staff,
experts as well as with external organisations have improved knowledge but also neighbourhood associations, schools, sports clubs, etc.)
on the phenomenon of radicalisation, in particular the individual and
social mechanisms that lead some individuals to radicalise. Such knowl-
edge will enable local authorities to design evidence-based strategies and
action programmes that are better adapted to the target groups (i.e. groups
and individuals at risk of radicalisation). An important aspect that has
A selection of tools produced
been highlighted through the project is the need to create strong links by the PRACTICIES project
between academic research and practitioners on the ground.
It is to be noted that the knowledge acquired through PRACTICIES also >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
builds on other European projects either led by Efus or in which it took
A variety of tools were produced by the project to help local and regional
part on the issue of radicalisation and, more broadly, polarisation (such as
authorities tackle radicalisation. They were tested on the ground through
those mentioned in the Foreword above).
the pilot projects developed by the PRACTICIES participant local authori-
ties. Here is a selection.
A comprehensive toolbox
Through a partnership that gathered researchers, experts in supporting Tool Citizens Agora
radicalised people, sociologists, public associations, municipal techni-
cians and police officers the project produced innovative tools that are
tailored to the needs of end-users and can be adapted to the various The methodology has been developed by the
Organising body
specific contexts of the cities and regions associated with PRACTICIES. Salzburg University of Applied Sciences
These efficient, easily transferable tools and their instruction manuals
were presented and tested several times before being finalised. The cities
and regions associated with the project now benefit from a toolbox that Citizens Agoras can address the broader public
can complement their own existing tools. or specific target groups such as young people,
Target group
immigrants or certain ethnic and religious
groups
12 13
 The Citizens Agora methodology aims to create public spaces for educa-
tional citizenship activities that encourage inclusive and active participa- Tool Desistance-Pro
tion. The basic premise is that radicalisation is closely linked to
discrimination, structural exclusion and unequal access to democracy. It The software and the user manual have been
thrives on manipulative, unequal and exclusive speech and should thus be Organising body created by the consulting cabinet Bouzar
tackled by its opposite, which is open and inclusive dialogue between all Expertises
social groups and individuals.

Professionals from public or associative institu-

The methodology is made up of various activities, grouped into 4 modules:
Target group tions tasked with identifying and supporting
Module 1: Exchange of views and perspectives between different groups
 radicalised individuals
• E.g. intergenerational and intercultural exploratory walks, community
and youth work, etc.
Module 2: Making the opinions of young people heard and offering
 The methods of radicalisation employed by extremist groups are evolving.
them the space and skills to express their views For example, Muslim men are no longer the only targets for recruiters:
• E.g. public speaking, poetry slam, etc. women and young people from non-Muslim families are also targeted.
The approach has also become more individualised, with subjects’ specific
Module 3: Inclusion and participation of young people in local decisions

anxieties being exploited to encourage their radicalisation.
• E.g. training and workshops for young people, youth parliaments,
round tables with politicians, etc. Desistance-Pro is a piece of software designed to help social workers not
only to identify individuals who are at risk of being radicalised, but also in
Module 4: Building relationships with schools and cultural centres to

the care and follow-up of individuals who have already been through the
improve the impact of these activities
radicalisation process. It assesses the extent to which an individual is
willing to accept non-violent alternatives to the radical paths they have
The activities are planned and carried out by both academic institutions been exposed to – information that can help the social worker in tailoring
and city administrations/social workers, working in close collaboration to their work to the needs of the individual.
fit the actions to the needs of the target group. Rather than employing a one-size-fits-all method, social workers can use
Through these activities, Citizens Agoras aim to improve inclusive citizen- Desistance-Pro to determine the needs of their client and thus the best
ship education, political dialogue, equal opportunity for expression, and way to proceed with the deradicalisation process. If extremist groups use
open debate. It will give a platform to those who are not normally included individualised processes to radicalise and recruit, then protection against
in decision making processes, and allow them to formulate, articulate and radicalisation must also be individualised. The tool has also been designed
criticize arguments – vital skills for taking part in the democratic to be applicable to people from a wide range of backgrounds in order to
experience. meet the growing pool of potential targets.
In order to generate the assessment, the social worker must answer a
series of questions (each with 6 possible answers, including ‘I don’t know’
and ‘No concern’) about the individual, using information they have

14 15
 gathered through interviews, observations and exchanges with external During the course, students create a digital story: a small video of 1-3
referents such as family, spouse, etc. Each answer corresponds to a score, minutes composed of images and a voice-over in which they give their
ranging from 1 (‘Has accepted alternative commitments’) to 4 (‘Still not point of view and try to inspire empathy around a topic. The stories are
considering alternative commitments’). Once all the questions have been shared within a Story Circle, where students must ask and answer ques-
answered, the final scores appear as a pie chart that the professional inter- tions about their work and offer feedback to others in the group. In this
prets him/herself. This data will help social workers to: way, they are encouraged to think critically about the information they en-
counter, whilst simultaneously learning to participate actively in a group.
Take into account the ideals of the radicalised person

The stories will usually attempt to tackle an injustice or raise awareness of
Fulfil the needs and anxieties that underlie the individual’s engagement
 an issue, so students can feel empowered in their ability to resolve
in the radical group problems in society from within.
Choose good alternative commitments which have been tailored to the
 Studies show that young people are drawn to radical and extremist groups
individual for the feelings of identity, security and legitimacy that are promised. The
Check if the supporting work allows the individual to evolve in their
 Digital Me course aims to provide students with an alternative route to
vision of the world and their definition of him/herself and others. these outcomes by teaching students to:
Think critically about how a narrative can be used to persuade others
Make sense of their identity and experience through storytelling
Tool Digital Me Talk about emotions
Develop and articulate their point of view
The toolkit has been developed by the Belgian Realise their ability to resolve injustices
Organising body
association Media Actie Kuregem - Stad (MAKS)
Work as part of a group
Take pride in sharing their work

Target group ages 14-18

The premise of Digital Me is that there is no single profile of a radicalised
person, and no single reason why they become radicalised. Radicalisation
is a process made up of a myriad of reasons, both micro and macro, and it
The Digital Me Teacher Toolkit is intended to provide secondary school
remains entirely specific to the subject. Digital Me is an effective tool,
teachers and trainers working with young people aged between 14-18
therefore, as it is a holistic approach that offers young people a wide range
years old with a specific methodology to promote active citizenship. The
of benefits – from emotional literacy to critical thinking skills – as well as
course aims to develop a student’s sense of identity, creativity and digital
being tailored to each individual student who takes part.
literacy, and thereby to reduce their vulnerability to radical and extremist
discourse.

16 17
 Understanding how news is created (e.g. the tension between attempt-

Tool Serious Game: Newscraft ing to attract readers/viewers and creating news; the material obstacles
that might affect a journalist’s ability to provide accurate coverage of
The game has been developed by the company events, such as time or money)
Organising body Vertical and the University of Lille, through the Understanding the techniques used to make a narrative seem credible
GERiiCO research laboratory. (e.g. the use of statistics, quotes from ‘experts’ or proof through images)

Target group ages 14-20 but primarily 14-16 The gameplay will encourage students to employ these skills whether or
not the information they are presented with comes from legitimate news
sources. The idea is not to divide news outlets into ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, or
Newscraft is a serious game designed to encourage students to think criti- to view the internet and social media as an automatic source of danger, but
cally about the news and media they consume. The idea is that this game to instead help students to think critically about all forms of media. The
could be used as an educational tool in schools as part of a wider lesson game will thus tackle issues related to a variety of news sources, including
about media and information literacy. written press, social media, satirical news shows, online videos and
images.
The concept of the game is to put players in the role of a journalist working
in a newsroom. The characteristics and aims of the newsroom will differ The gameplay is designed to last between 20 and 30 minutes so that it can
on each round of play, and players are therefore encouraged to play differ- fit into an hour-long class, alongside other relevant materials and activities
ently, depending on the editorial style of the assigned newsroom. During on the subject of media literacy. This whole class will be developed as a
the game, the player must publish news to fit their brief, taking into dedicated teaching kit by the University of Lille. The game will also have
account the means at their disposal while ensuring that the publications some replay value (for instance, if a player wants to play again at home or
generate a minimum number of views. Players are rewarded for fitting the the instructor wants to hold a second session).
brief of the newsroom and generating views whilst some publication
choices can trigger outside events (both positive and negative).
The aim of Newscraft is to teach students to reflexively question and
critique the news they encounter, so that they are equipped to navigate
fake news, conspiracist narratives, and radical propaganda discourse. The
key skills developed in the game include:
Making a habit of verifying the source behind every piece of news (both

text and images)
Asking who is talking to me, and what are they trying to do
Analysing images
Learning the importance of a free and varied press in a democratic
society

18 19
 Tackling radicalisation: chal- can be difficult to mobilise all these actors and it is important that public
institutions build relationships of trust with them.

lenges and opportunities for Evaluating schemes for preventing violent radicalisation is often quite

local and regional authorities complicated. It is therefore necessary to strengthen the links between
researchers and practitioners on the ground.
The confidential or sensitive nature of information on radicalisation
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> hampers exchanges and the sharing of information among prevention
At the end of 2019, when the project was drawing to a close following three stakeholders, which reduces the efficiency and scope of prevention
years of intense work, Efus organised a workshop with the Working Group strategies.
of Cities, in Toulouse. The purpose was to take stock of what had been Often, schemes for the prevention of radicalisation do not have suffi-
achieved and list the challenges posed by radicalisation to local and regional cient financial support to be fully implemented and efficient.
authorities, but also the opportunities that can arise from carrying out pre-
ventive work in this field. This work was enriched by the insights gained by
Efus on the issue of the prevention of radicalisation over the past few years, Opportunities
notably the European projects it has been either a part of or leading.
One of the main aspects highlighted by the cities member of the Working >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Group is that PRACTICIES enabled them to map out their local strengths
Intense work on radicalisation and violent extremism at the local level is
and weaknesses and thus design tailored solutions. This work resulted in
a key opportunity to understand the root causes of such processes. It
a series of fact sheets that are available on the Efus website (www.efus.eu).
helps local/regional authorities to better grasp the detrimental effects
Here is a summary of the main challenges and opportunities they identified. that inequality, exclusion, discrimination and polarisation have and
how they increase vulnerabilities among young people and society in
general. It challenges them to work harder to protect the fundamental
Challenges rights of all local residents and enable their democratic participation at
the municipal level.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Identifying and understanding what resources are available in a given
local territory is indispensable for any crime prevention strategy, but in
Radicalism and violent extremism is a multifaceted phenomenon

particular for the prevention of radicalisation.
(that can be motivated by anything from religion, to left/right political
opinions, to even sport), which requires targeted, tailored strategies. Given that radicalisation is an international phenomenon, local stake-
holders may be led to work with peers at national, European and interna-
Polarisation often precedes radicalisation, but often there are no spe-

tional level. This helps to foster exchanges and increase knowledge.
cific local strategies or policies to tackle it because many local/regional
authorities struggle to identify this phenomenon as such. Researching innovative tools that enable citizens to participate in
policymaking in the field of the prevention of radicalisation is worth-
Preventing radicalisation requires working across the board and in
while for local authorities, in particular because they can use them in
cooperation with all the relevant local stakeholders as well as citizens. It
any other policy area.

20 21
 Recommendations for local Intercultural education has to be promoted at the local level.
Forums have to be created to monitor and ensure that cultural dialogue
authorities is respected.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Municipalities must counter “fake news” and conspiracy theories by

teaching critical thinking and media literacy along with respect and the
In order to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities they have identi- appreciation of differences.
fied, the member cities and regions of the Working Group of Cities propose the We propose to create mentorship programmes focused on multicultural,
following recommendations to other European local and regional authorities. democratic values, respect, and conflict-solving skills.

>>>>>>> Topic: Inclusion and well-being of the population

>>>>>>> Topic: Professional culture and collaboration
Promoting and enhancing the psychological well-being of young people.
Collaboration among the relevant actors in the field in order to
To promote, starting from local policies, paths of inclusiveness aimed at

reach the target groups.
families with the aim of widening these paths to regional and national
policies. Governments and institutions play a relevant role in supporting Well established structures and experts in youth or social work, educa-
schools and educational systems’ efforts in promoting adolescents’ tors or school teachers have better access to young people and should
competences for democratic culture. Particularly, they are called to therefore be involved in the different activities from the very beginning.
create social cohesion and inclusive environments and to offer equal A combination of face-to-face and online contacts via social media is
developmental opportunities to young people who experience discrimi- helpful and useful for establishing and maintaining sustainable
nation, deprivation and exclusion. networks between social workers, educators, opinion leaders and
youngsters. Involve parents in the work.
Families must be involved in a context that sees them as an active part

of society. This should consequently promote the psychological
well-being of their children, preventing them from deviant paths that Taking care of the frontline professionals
could lead to violent radicalisation. Provide coaching or supervision and socio-psychological support for
Therefore, the strengthening of anti-discrimination agencies, which
 youth workers and time and space for the exchange of experiences.
could give men and women the confidence and certainty of fully belong- Open a space for exchange among them: face to face and online contact.
ing and being protected in the context in which they live, seems
fundamental.
The actors involved in the implementation of prevention policies
against radicalisation call for better training based in shared
There is a general lack of civic education (human rights and democra-
common knowledge.
tic values) teaching in schools. The education system is not adapted to
Measures to combat discrimination, intolerance, prejudice and social
new problems that for example result from the greater mobility of
polarisation should be implemented with two main objectives: to
people, such as discrimination against children on the basis of
prevent the manipulation of young people and to facilitate the social in-
language and race, and the lack of preparation of the teaching staff in
tegration of newcomers.
areas such as multiculturalism and the different religions and
languages.

22 23
 The measures that are envisaged should take into account the different It is imperative to establish a prior communication strategy at the local
age groups among the young and their specificities, e.g. consider that ad- level that addresses the transmission of common values from an early
olescents build their personal identity in opposition to the rules of society. age. Being resilient against discriminatory processes is an essential skill
that should be taught early to children.
Cities must also develop actions and strategies for managing cultural

diversity in a positive way. An important measure in this respect would We propose to create European Days Against Violent Radicalisation to provide
be to educate and empower young people so they become more resilient an open space for discussion between public authorities and civil society.
and accept cultural diversity.
Concrete measures should be taken to restore society’s trust in their
Cities must ensure access to fundamental rights such as housing, edu-
 government and police as well as shared common values.
cation, proper nutrition, healthcare and religious freedom. Respecting
Measures should be developed to promote the active participation of
these fundamental rights is a precondition for social integration.
civil society in the development of policies to prevent radicalisation.
This also includes teaching young people about citizenship and how to
Holistic approach and networking participate in society.
General political and social structures, discourses and developments

need to be analysed and taken into account (different extremisms). >>>>>>> Topic: Innovation and new technologies
Collaboration between different actors must be strengthened: Youth de-
 In order to counter radicalisation, local authorities too often rely on
partments, open youth work, schools and educators, political representa- the use of tools or strategies that “have worked in the past”, but are
tives, trade unions, enterprises, NGOs, artists, sports people and others. not necessarily adapted to the changing local contexts.
Nowadays, a phenomenon as fluid as radicalisation calls for innovative
and adapted response tools. Such new methods need to be tested before
>>>>>>> Topic: Local democracy and citizen involvement
being implemented and thoroughly evaluated.
Some people are particularly excluded or vulnerable in the school
The participation of young people in reflections around innovation
system and do not feel included at any point of their lives. For ex-
should be promoted.
ample, they fear being punished for their opinions.
Promote citizens’ empowerment – make sure everyone has the opportu-
 Educational tools should be innovative and systematically integrate an
nity and skills to participate. intercultural approach.

Educational institutions must become the place where local democracy

 Tools should be adapted to take into account the growing influence of
online media in our lives.
is lived and practised.
Local authorities must be prepared to speak forcefully against radical
The success of a radicalisation prevention policy depends in part ideas and conspiracy theories.
on the active participation of civil society. Adequate communica-
tion in both directions (authorities to citizens and citizens to au- The internet and social networks are very effective means of dis-
thorities) is essential, especially towards the young public. seminating extremist speeches, especially among young audiences.
Online communication and social networks occupy a considerable

24 25
 share of the public space and have an important influence on social lar the right to asylum. Better coordination at European level is needed
life and democratic structures. to ensure refugees are properly received and get support to integrate
Municipalities must propose alternative discourses that convey positive
 into the local community.
messages and promote democratic values and social cohesion in order
to strengthen the resilience of the population against extremist >>>>>>> Topic: Local governance and strategies
discourses.
Institutionalisation, planning, costing and evaluation
They must give visibility to local actions and offer the population the
 Early prevention needs to be planned, structured, well organised, ac-
chance to be involved in the creation process. companied and evaluated by social scientists. It also needs proper
Municipalities have to be committed to integrating into their campaigns
 resources.
the issues and needs of young people. Policies aimed at preventing radicalisation should be cost-effective in
Municipalities have to give young people a role in developing campaigns
 order to be sustainable, especially given the general context of decreas-
against violent extremism not only because such campaigns would ing public funding.
benefit from their know-how in new technologies, but also because they An overall concept, guiding principles and broad strategy for prevention
have to be involved in these efforts, which concern them directly. have to be designed within the local administrations.
Municipalities must not allow extremist content to thrive and must
 Local radicalisation audits and diagnostics can be used to optimize
ensure that democratic values and the rule of law prevail. This has to be policy implementation. These are important decision-support tools that
translated into legal and technical measures. provide a knowledge base for the development of prevention policies.

>>>>>>> Topic: Local and regional authorities and the EU Short term actions and projects that link and feed into long term
National and local public authorities often feel disconnected from structures but are not backed by dedicated sustainable policies are
European institutions as regards the fight against radicalisation. likely to be inefficient and may even fail.
Some initiatives exist at European level that cities can be involved Municipalities must invest in creating sustainable structures that com-
in, e.g. RAN Local or the EU Cities Against Radicalisation plement short-term decision-making.
partnership.
It is necessary to define a strategy comprised of the following stages: 1) the
Local authorities must actively seek information about the initiatives
 vision / idea (objective of the action); 2) the reinforcement of the action through
they can be part of. On the other hand, European institutions must in- support at national or supranational level, including an overall plan framing
centivize local authorities’ participation. the action; 3) the roll-out of the plan at local level; 4) the implementation of
The EU must support local policies that are ultimately closest to citizens
 these three stages through projects that can become permanent structures.
and the most reactive in terms of prevention. Anticipation is key in radicalisation prevention strategies and local au-
EU funding is a fundamental tool for cities to implement their policies.
 thorities must focus on primary prevention policies such as fighting
European institutions should award more funding to the local level. against discrimination and polarisation.
The EU must actively ensure respect for fundamental rights, in particu-


26 27
 Radicalisation prevention strategies that are approached from a
singular point of view are ineffective. Too often, legislation and
overly complex administrative structures hinder the work between
the various actors despite their good intentions.
It is imperative to systematically include in any policy for the prevention

of radicalisation this aspect of multi-stakeholder work, which must take
on board the largest possible number of institutions intervening in the
lives of radicalised people: social workers, police, associations, families,
schools, justice, health services, public institutions in charge of employ-
ment, immigration services, and others.
Trust is the key to any good partnership and needs to be strengthened

through training on information sharing.
Other methods and strategies, such as community policing, can also

strengthen trust and collaboration among different actors such as police
and citizens.

In four of the five cities analysed, there is no formal, structured net-

work for the prevention of radicalisation. However, it would be
possible to create such a network based on structures already in
place to promote social integration, coexistence and multicultur-
alism, and to cater to the young.
To enhance coordination, each city should have: 1) An umbrella group

composed of policy makers from local government departments linked
to the prevention strategy. This group would be in charge of promoting
the strategy, goals and objectives and of reviewing them in light of the
results obtained. 2) A stable group of social actors, faith representatives,
local media, youth associations and representatives of professional
groups – trade unions, schools, civil service bodies, etc.
Local authorities should adapt the existing structures for social integra-

tion, coexistence, multiculturalism and youth with the aim of strength-
ening security and preventing juvenile crime.

28 29
 The PRACTICIES consortium
(list of partners)

The PRACTICIES “Partnership Against Violent Radicalisation in Cities”

project was led by the University of Toulouse II-Le Mirail (France).
The consortium included 22 partners: the Ministry of the Interior CITCO
(Spain), Fachhochschule Salzburg GmbH (Austria), University of Calabria
(Italy), University Charles de Gaulle Lille 3 (France), TNS Opinion Kantar
(Belgium), Media Actie Kuregem Stad (Belgium), Stadtgemeinde Salzburg
(Austria), University Rey Juan Carlos (Spain), Ministry of Justice (Portugal),
Qualify Just-IT Solutions and Consulting LDA (Portugal), University of
Grenoble Alpes (France), Bouzar Expertises (France), University of Piraeus
Research Centre (Greece), Kentro Meleton Asfaleias (Greece), Office
national d’études et de recherches aérospatiales (France), City Council of
Madrid (Spain), City Council of Amadora (Portugal), Métropole Nice Côte
d’Azur (France), Association Forum des Sciences sociales appliquées
(Tunisia), City Council of Toulouse (France), Commission Nationale de
Lutte Contre le Terrorisme (Tunisia), European Forum for Urban Security.
Several European cities and civil society institutions were associated to the
project as end users: Land of Berlin – Office of the State Commission
against Violence (Germany), the Senate Department for Education, Youth
and Science of Berlin (Germany), Municipality of Schaerbeek (Belgium),
Municipality of Liège (Belgium), Region of Calabria (Italy), Leitung Be-
ratungsstelle Extremismus (Austria), NGO Syriens ne Bouge Agissons
(France), S.A.V.E. Belgium (Belgium), Ville de Lyon (France), Municipality
of Solna (Sweden), Municipality of Augsburg (Germany), Municipality of
L’Hospitalet (Spain), Madrid Municipal Police (Spain)

The project lasted from May 2017 to April 2020

This brochure has been produced in the context of the Practicies Project. The research
www.practicies.org leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 740072

30 31
 About Efus
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Founded in 1987, the European Forum for Urban Security
(Efus) is the only European network of local and regional
authorities dedicated to urban security. It includes 250 local
and regional authorities from 16 countries. Its objectives
are to:
promote a balanced vision of urban security, combining
prevention, sanctions and social cohesion,
support local authorities in the design, implementation and
evaluation of their local security policy,
help local elected officials get recognition for their role in
the development of national and European policies.

efus.eu [email protected]