Budva – On April 25, 26 and 27, 2023, with the support of the European Union, IOM, GIZ and the Secretariat of the Integrated Internal Security Governance (IISG), the 13th, 3-day meeting of the Regional Network of National Coordinators Against Terrorism and Prevention/Countering Violent Extremism of the Western Balkans (RNNC) in Budva, Montenegro The meeting was chaired by the EU’s regional advisor against terrorism, Eddy Greif and the Secretary of State of Montenegro Slobodan Kovaçeviç.

Together with the National Coordinators and their colleagues, representatives of the European Commission, of the EU Delegations in the Western Balkans participated in this activity, Klaudia Kuljuh, IOM Regional Program Manager; Olivia Debaveye, Program Manager at the European Commission as well as several EU Member States and the USA, as well as representatives of several relevant projects related to CT and CVE In this activity, Albania was represented by the National Coordinator Against Violent Extremism at the same time and Director of CVE, Denion Meidani. After the opening speech of the EU regional advisor against terrorism Greif and the Secretary of State of Montenegro Kovaçeviç, the National Coordinators of CT and CVE in attendance presented updates on the current state of implementation of national CT P/CVE strategies and action plans in their respective countries.

In addition, the forum discussed the new challenges related to the field of violent extremism, the implementation of the Joint Action Plan against Terrorism in the Western Balkans and its bilateral agreements against terrorism and the cooperation with the authorities in their activities for resocialization, rehabilitation and reintegration (RRR) of returning foreign terrorist fighters and their families.

“There is no doubt that all of us present strongly believe that extremism will be addressed from an international perspective, and not in terms of individual countries (otherwise we would not be here). What happens within a country’s borders is not just that country’s business, even more so in today’s global and interdependent world.

In fact, the defining characteristic of today’s world is its interdependence; while the economics of globalization are well matured, the politics of globalization are not far behind. If we do not articulate a common global policy based on common values, we risk chaos! The threat to our stability, economic and political, leaving unchecked extremism, conflict or injustice”, said the Director of CVE, Denion Meidani, during his speech.

“Our CVE Center has recently been active in a number of initiatives related to preventing and countering violent extremism, as well as the fight against terrorism. These include, among others, precisely the reforms in the above line of “smart power”. Through the approval in February of this year of the Intersectoral Strategy for the Prevention of Violent Extremism and the Fight against Terrorism 2023-2025 and the corresponding Action Plans 2023-2025 as well as the signing of the new agreement for the implementation of the Joint Action. Counter-Terrorism Plan between the authorities of the Republic of Albania and the European Commission, thus strategically and operationally aligning our CT and P/CVE efforts and resources.

Also, the development and presentation for review of the project for the creation, organization and operation of the Agency for Counter-Terrorism and Extremism (AKTE), following the recommendations of the last TAIEX Review by the EU Commission for the creation of an institutionalized threat assessment and mechanism of risk gradation. The one that analyzes and evaluates in an integrated and coordinated manner the level of risk at the national level. But also the development and expansion of our CVE Center to include the integrative component of CT, while improving coordination and cooperation with the actors involved through the creation of a Fusion Center on the example of Western models”, added Meidani.

The National Coordinators against Violent Extremism and Terrorism, in this three-day activity, elaborated on the progress achieved, the challenges they face, the strategic and operational way forward. Representatives of relevant EU CT P/CVE services then shared their views on the topic and reported on current projects funded by the commission In the last session of the meeting, the implementers of the respective projects, who cooperate with the national authorities in the field of Counter-terrorism, were given the opportunity to present their respective work: the regional project Against Serious Crime in the Western Balkans, STRIVE.

The Hedayah Program for the Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism, the Council of Europe’s regional project in the field of preventing and combating violent extremism and radicalization in prisons in the Western Balkans, the GCERF regional project for RRR, as well as the UN Pact regional network from CEPOL The RNNC as a forum is characterized by strong cooperation between all national, regional and international members – interactions between EU-funded projects and beneficiaries are increasingly feeding into national counter-terrorism strategies and preventing and countering violent extremism. The further development and implementation of the Joint Action Plan on terrorism in the WB, based on the renewed CT Dialogues, remains a priority for the Western Balkans and the EU, as stated during the meeting. International cooperation is the only effective way to tackle terrorism, violent extremism and other cross-border security challenges.

The meeting was supported by the regional project Against Serious Crime in the Western Balkans, which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), co-financed by the European Commission (DG NEAR), Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development German Government (BMZ) and Italian Ministry of the Interior, IISG Secretariat and IOM.

The main objective is to strengthen cross-border cooperation to fight serious and organized crime in the Western Balkans with EU institutions and networks.