RAN Digital Study visit Returnee coordinators in Germany, visit to Hesse and Berlin, 23-24 June 2020

Many EU Member States are currently dealing with the issue of returning foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and their family members, and are looking into the possible different approaches to handle this phenomenon.

It is of key importance to gather practical insights and discuss the most common challenges in order to be as prepared as possible for this task throughout the EU. State authorities and civil society actors play a key role in the continued care of returnees, especially in the context of deradicalisation and reintegration.

This conclusion paper elaborates on these aspects and provides several concrete examples and practical tips. One key lesson learned concerns the importance of providing adequate information to the actors involved in the management of returnees, and conveying to them (without scaring or overwhelming them) the prospect that some cases may pose a threat to national security.

Another key lesson is that families receiving returning relatives should, when appropriate, be involved at all stages possible, as they can favourably influence reintegration efforts.