Mapping of primary prevention approaches in southern EU Member States

Globally speaking, primary prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism in southern EU Member States (MSs) (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain) has not attracted a lot of attention compared to other geographical areas, Spain being a notable exception. One reason for this may be that in many EU MSs, prevention and countering of violent extremism (P/CVE) policies and strategies were developed in the 2000s in direct response to dramatic terrorist events and thus conceived as the continuation of counterterrorism, largely driven by security considerations.

Social cohesion approaches were adopted only later, in order to address fundamental long-term issues (discrimination, stigmatisation, citizenship, integration, equality, exclusion, racism, education, etc.). Their development differed between regions and countries. Generally speaking, social cohesion approaches are more visible in the northern and western parts of Europe rather than in the south.

However, primary prevention efforts in southern EU MSs have never been systematically reviewed and available academic literature tends to focus either on counterterrorism or targeted prevention efforts.