Lorenzo Vidino: "Terror Threat from young Muslims born in Europe ?"
written by: Ioannis Michaletos, 21-Jun-10

"The most likely threat comes from small groups of European passport-holders who travel to countries like Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen to obtain training and expertise."

- Exclusive interview with Lorenzo Vidino, the renowned Italian expert on Islam, international terrorism and European counter-strategies, conducted by Ioannis Michaletos, WSN Editor for South East Europe and South-eastern Office Co-ordinator -

Ioannis Michaletos: What is your view concerning the current European counter-terrorism strategy? Are the main issues being addressed in an adequate manner, or is there a long way before we can call the whole approach as a "strategy" itself?

Lorenzo Vidino: I think it is improper to talk about a cohesive European counter-terrorism strategy, as each European country employs different strategies that are the consequence of its history, culture, legal framework, previous experience with terrorism, and perception of the threat.

The European Union has been playing a remarkable role in attempting to harmonize the efforts of its member countries. Yet major differences remain. This is visible at the level of foreign policy, where some countries directly link the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan to their own security and therefore make a direct commitment of troops on the ground, while others are reluctant to do so. But there are also enormous differences in terms of internal policies. Some countries, like France, have a very aggressive legislation that allows authorities to take measures that would be inconceivable in, let's say, Germany.

This gap was much more significant nine years ago, immediately after 9/11, but I think that still today it is incorrect to talk of a full-fledged pan-European strategy. Thanks largely to the efforts of various EU institutions there is remarkable operational cooperation among European authorities at all levels and a continuous exchange of ideas among policymakers of various countries, which is unquestionably leading towards increasing homogeneity of counter-terrorism policies and practices. Yet I think there are legal, political, and cultural differences among different countries that prevent the formation of a homogeneous pan-European strategy. And, to be sure, I am not convinced that is a negative thing.

Once Brussels provides a general framework and forms of solid cooperation are established, I do not see any problem with each country implementing its own counter-terrorism policy in its own way. And indeed the system seems to be working. Proof of that are the dozens of attacks that have been thwarted over the last few years in several European countries.

Ioannis Michaletos: There has been a long talk around the interrelation between Islamic originated terrorism and illegal immigration from the Muslim countries to Europe. According to your estimation, is there a direct or indirect link between those two phenomena? ...more