The European Commission (EU) organized a regional training workshop on preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) in Tirana from 16 to 18 April, implemented by Rusi Europe.

The workshop gathered representatives of EU Delegations in the Western Balkans, EU Member States’ diplomats, national CT and P/CVE coordinators and civil society representatives from the region.

Its objectives were to increase the understanding of P/CVE concepts, terminology and policy, as well as to provide methods, tools and approaches to design and implement P/CVE programmes. This workshop was designed to enable participants to recognise the warning signs of radicalisation, to strengthen their programmes and policies to address vulnerable communities and to prevent and counter incipient violent extremism.

Director of the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism, also the National Coordinator, Mrs. Lejdi Dervishi presented an expanded overview of the history and factors of violent extremism threats in the region, emphasizing the Albanian reality and the approach of the CVE Center to address with this phenomenon.

The Director of the Center for Countering Violent Extremism, also the National Coordinator, Ms. Lejdi Dervishi, presented an expanded overview of the history and factors of violent extremism threatening the region, emphasizing the Albanian reality and the approach of the Center for Countering Violent Extremism to address this phenomenon.

The focus of the discussions was on presenting the practice followed by the Albanian state regarding the reintegration of returned foreign fighters from conflict zones and their families, as well as other radicalized or at-risk individuals, as one of the best practices in the region.

During the three-day seminar, participants addressed P/CVE challenges, successes, and national strategies of P/CVE in the Western Balkans, with practical exercises and lectures led by field researchers.