Implementing complementary strategies to improve refugee integration

A new transnational European partnership emphasises the need for an integrative approach to preventing refugees’ and asylum-seekers’ vulnerability to radicalisation.

With refugee crises pressingly affecting Europe since 2015, and with the additional challenges posed by the conflict in Ukraine, several demands are being stressed across various European regions. First, the assistance refugees receive must go beyond fulfilling short-term immediate needs. Then, considering the potential risk factors derived from their experience, it is essential to make efforts to prevent them from becoming radicalised.

The concern with radicalisation prevention is especially pertinent among this population once an inadequate integration may result in resentment and grievances against the host societies and countries.

Indeed, the Radicalisation Awareness Network maintains that the risk factors related to the processes of radicalisation affect refugees due to their particular needs, and the expectations and difficulties encountered while traveling to and in Europe.

However, these risks and vulnerabilities can be diminished by implementing inclusive policies and involving different stakeholders.

In this sense, the IN2PREV project aims to facilitate the integration process of refugees and asylum seekers by increasing awareness of the specific needs and challenges this population often faces after resettlement.

This will be achieved by promoting a collaboration network for law enforcement agencies (LEAs and community organisations. This network will serve as a discussion hub and repository for follow-up and inclusion strategies addressing difficulties encountered during the integration process.

The project will also develop an assessment tool to evaluate refugees’ vulnerability to radicalisation and a mentoring programme aimed at improving inclusion efforts. B-Learning courses will be used to train and capacitate practitioners on these two fronts.

The technical framework for the IN2PREV Frontline Practitioners Network is already in the early stages of construction. The project is now developing a comprehensive database of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), law enforcement agencies (LEAs), representatives of refugees, and researchers to support the network set-up.

The Consortium is also mapping current procedures for assessing the vulnerability of refugees to radicalisation across all countries involved in IN2PREV. This knowledge will inform the development of a survey, which will be disseminated to gather further insight into the issue. The survey will play an important role in increasing the knowledge pool of effective prevention and intervention strategies to prevent radicalisation, and about the current needs of practitioners working in the field.