On July 10-11, 2024, the third meeting of the “Counterterrorism Law Enforcement” Forum (CTLEF) was held in The Hague, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Justice in cooperation with Europol. The forum brought together experts from over 40 countries and multilateral organizations to discuss the threats posed by racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE) and aimed to strengthen international cooperation in jointly countering these threats.

At the invitation of the U.S. authorities, the forum was attended by the Director of the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism/ National Coordinator, Ms. Lejdi Dervishi, and representatives of the Anti-Terrorism Directorate of the State Police.

Over the course of the two-day forum, participants shared information on the international threat posed by REMVE and how REMVE actors and networks exploit cross-border movements to advance their efforts. Government officials presented summaries of recent actions taken to combat REMVE activities, including investigations, prosecutions, and financial measures. They also exchanged views on the most effective strategies and approaches to address this growing threat. Participants highlighted the harmful role Russia plays in this area, particularly through propaganda aimed at justifying the war against Ukraine as “de-Nazification.”

On the second day, a panel focused on regional threats posed by REMVE in Latin America was led by the Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U.S. Bureau of Counterterrorism, Mr. Ian Moss. In his welcoming remarks, Moss thanked Europol for co-organizing the event with the U.S. and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the transnational threat posed by racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism. During the panel discussions, Moss highlighted Albania and expressed U.S. appreciation for the successful approach of the Albanian government authorities, particularly the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE Center), for their effective work in involving civil society organizations in countering radicalization and violent extremism.

Throughout the sessions, there were presentations from representatives of several participating countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Finland, Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, and from international organizations such as Europol and Interpol.

Active and contributing participants in the event also included representatives from several advisory entities such as the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, based in Malta; the Royal United Services Institute, based in London; the International Center for Counter-Terrorism, based in The Hague; the RAND Corporation, based in the U.S.; and the Counter Extremism Project, based in Berlin.