HF III - Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release

Based on the achievements from the implementation of the previous phase of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the action continues to strengthen safety and security in the Western Balkans region by improving management and rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and other marginalised and vulnerable prisoners at risk of radicalisation. It promotes and reinforces co-operation, professional networking and exchange of knowledge and best practices between prison, probation practitioners and other stakeholders active in prevention and countering radicalisation and violent extremism in the region. It further fosters multi-sectoral and inter-agency approach in addressing the phenomena of radicalisation and violent extremism and provides guidance to the Beneficiaries in tailoring their preventive and response mechanisms aligned to the needs, priorities and context specific for each Beneficiary.
The Action focuses on three priority areas:

Ensuring sustainable management of VEPs, marginalised and vulnerable prisoners at risk of radicalisation, effective use of VEP specific assessment tools and rehabilitation methodologies and preparing them for release;
Enhancing their post-penal support after release, by assisting their full reintegration and safe return to their communities, ensuring consistency on prison-exit continuum by including all relevant stakeholders in the process (families, mentors, local community, agencies, etc.)
Strengthening the role of the probation services in supervising community sanctions and measures and supporting VEPs on early or conditional release.

The action is implemented in close cooperation with the Ministries of Justice and the P/CVE coordination mechanisms of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Republic of Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia, and includes a wide spectrum of other domestic stakeholders and civil society organizations.
The duration of the action is set at 48 months, and it is expected to be completed by 31 December 2026, with an overall budget of 1,650,000 Euros.

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Back Work on programmes for rehabilitation, reintegration and preparation of violent extremist prisoners for release started in Kosovo*

@ Council of Europe

What are the current disengagement and deradicalization programmes for convicted terrorists in the EU, what methodologies and models of change? What are the relevant Council of Europe standards and recommendations on working with violent extremist offenders (VEOs) vis-à-vis the protection of their human rights? What model suits the needs and context of Kosovo best? What can be learned from the reintegration and pre-release practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its first results? These were just a few among many issues discussed at the 1^stproject Working Group meeting for Kosovo held on 26-27 October 2023.

The Working Group members and observers including representatives of the Kosovo Correction Service and the Kosovo Probation Service, articulated the main challenges they face in daily work when managing the rehabilitation path of a VEO, preparing their transition from the life in prison to the life in the community, and identified the main preconditions to making this transition successful.

The need for multi-agency co-operation in reintegration was unanimously acknowledged, however, the Working Group members have emphasised the essential preconditions for such co-operation, such as: a joint database as a mechanism for information exchange between the agencies involved, the use of a standard risk assessment tool by the police, correction and probation services, enhancing human resource capacities of the correctional, probation and social welfare service, early involvement of and communication with the host community in preparation for release of VEOs.

Based on the discussion, an outline of the rehabilitation, reintegration and pre-release programme was proposed as a framework to be further developed by the Beneficiary with the support of the Council of Europe.

The activity took place under the Beneficiary-specific component of the action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release”, implemented under auspices of the Horizontal Facility Programme and its third phase, co-funded by EU and CoE and implemented by the Council of Europe.

* All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United National Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

26-27 October 2023