IPS contributes to shaping EU's future agenda on radicalisation prevention at Brussels Town Hall meeting

IPS_Innovative Prison Systems took part in the first EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation Town Hall Meeting in Brussels, joining around 100 key stakeholders from across Europe. The event brought together representatives of EU Member States, policymakers, researchers, and field practitioners to exchange perspectives and contribute to the design of the forthcoming EU Agenda on preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

Organised under the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation, the May 14th, 2025, Town Hall Meeting is a central step in the development of the strategic document, which will guide EU security and prevention efforts over the next five years. Rooted in the ProtectEU Strategy, the Agenda emphasises a whole-of-society approach to tackling the challenges raised by terrorism and violent extremism in our societies.

Representing IPS at the Town Hall were Pedro das Neves, CEO; Pedro Liberado, Chief Research Officer and Coordinator for the Radicalisation, Violent Extremism, and Organised Crime Portfolio (RAD/VE & OC); and Vânia Sampaio, Head of Unit for Security and Criminal Justice Cooperation, within the RAD/VE & OC portfolio. Each participated in one of the event’s focused breakout sessions, designed to address the complexity and layered nature of radicalisation today.

Vânia Sampaio joined the Global Dimension session, which explored international aspects of radicalisation and the broader context in which it develops. Pedro das Neves participated in the Online Dimension session, addressing challenges linked to extremist content and behaviour in digital spaces. Pedro Liberado took part in the Local Dimension session, centred on community-level responses, local polarisation, and resilience-building.

The Town Hall discussions will feed directly into the formulation of the new EU Agenda, helping to identify key gaps, opportunities, and priorities for action. These outcomes will also inform the next phase of work within the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation.

IPS is a core partner of this Knowledge Hub, with specific contributions to the areas of foresight, training, and two thematic panels: “Prisons, Rehabilitation and Reintegration” and “Local Dimension, Polarisation, and Resilience Building”. Its experience across several interconnected initiatives in this topic helps ensuring that policy discussions are informed by practice-based insights and cross-sector expertise.

This involvement highlights IPS’ ongoing commitment to supporting evidence-based and practice-informed responses to radicalisation and violent extremism, particularly in custodial settings and community contexts. With its direct contributions to research, training, and capacity-building efforts across Europe, IPS remains a key driver in the collective effort to build a safer, more resilient Europe.