The European Union organized a technical workshop on preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) in New Delhi, held on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue. The workshop was inaugurated by EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, and was organized in collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands. 

The event united counterterrorism specialists and high-level officials from EU and Indian security sectors and policy institutions to share best practices on prevention, de-radicalisation, and rehabilitating violent individuals extremists. The EU Delegation brought together security experts from European Union institutions, EU Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, the Netherlands), and the Strong Cities Network (SCN), embodying the Team Europe spirit.

Among the topics discussed were whole-of-government approaches, risk assessment processes, exit programs, and reintegration strategies. Both soft and hard security aspects of counterterrorism must continue to be collaborated on for a successful counterterrorism.

Maciej Stadejek, the Director for Security and Defence Policy at the European External Action Service, remarked,

“This workshop reflects the deepening partnership between the EU and India in counterterrorism and security collaboration. Through the exchange of expertise and the promotion of dialogue, we are enhancing our shared capacity to prevent and combat violent extremism while maintaining our commitment to democratic principles and human rights.”

He further stated,

“We aim to solidify our collaboration with India in counterterrorism and the prevention of violent extremism by sharing EU methodologies on deradicalization, risk assessment, and prevention strategies.”

Dinkar Gupta, the ex-Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), stated: “India and the EU encounter changing security threats that necessitate innovative and cooperative responses. By sharing our experiences, we can develop more effective strategies for deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and long-term prevention.”

This workshop builds on the recent visit by the College of Commissioners to India, during which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen highlighted in their Leaders’ Statement the importance of enhancing collaboration in counterterrorism and reinforcing international cooperation to address terrorism and its financing comprehensively and sustainably. Additionally, both parties expressed their commitment to investigating the potential for a security and defense partnership.

The workshop aligns with the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and enhances existing EU-India counterterrorism efforts through the ESIWA+ project (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation In and With Asia & the Indo-Pacific). This includes training Indian security practitioners in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risk management, addressing online terrorism, and combating drone terrorism. 

Collaboration between the EU and India on counterterrorism efforts:

In February 2022, the EU and India conducted their inaugural joint workshop addressing online terrorism content, expanding upon the Counterterrorism Dialogue that began in November 2020. This online workshop tackled the urgent problem of how terrorists use the internet, while examining creative prevention campaigns and intervention strategies. 

Since then, the EU-India Counterterrorism Dialogue has remained focused on regulating terrorist content online, making it one of the top two priorities in March 2022 discussion. The 2024 EU-India Counterterrorism Dialogue revisited and deepened discussions on this crucial topic, highlighting the mutual dedication of both regions to confronting this evolving threat. This issue also received attention during the recent College of Commissioners’ visit to India. 

ESIWA+ (Enhancing Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific) aims to strengthen the EU’s security and defense collaboration across four key themes areas: counterterrorism, mitigating violent extremism, managing crises related to hybrid threats, enhancing cybersecurity, and maritime security. ESIWA+ receives funding from the European Union, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The initiative is jointly implemented by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Expertise France.