Conclusion Paper: Thematic Panel 6 - 4th Thematic Panel Meeting

On the 2nd and 3rd of December 2025, the Thematic Panel 6 for ‘Management of Foreign Terrorist Fighters, Volunteers, and Their Families’ held its fourth meeting in Budapest. Participants included the Thematic Panel co-leaders and members (including law enforcement, P/CVE practitioners, policy makers and academics). The aim of the meeting was to better understand the role and involvement of receiving communities in the reintegration process of returnees. During the firs part of the meeting, we examined community-level responses from the Western Balkans and North Macedonia to radicalisation, repatriation, and reintegration, with a particular focus on women, minors and other vulnerable groups. Discussions helped to gain a better understanding on how especially women and children have adjusted since their return. The research session provided comparative insights into patterns and experiences of female returnees, highlighting gender-specific dynamics and disengagement pathways. In addition, participants explored how evaluation can be effectively integrated into P/CVE and reintegration programming. Collectively, the discussions facilitated an exchange of experiences, identified common challenges and promising approaches, and underscored the importance of coordinated, evidence-informed, and community-based strategies in the management of foreign terrorist fighters and their families.