India and EU collaborate to combat violent extremism

The European Union (EU) and India held a technical workshop in New Delhi to discuss ways to prevent and counter violent extremism. The workshop took place alongside the Raisina Dialogue and was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Netherlands. It gathered counterterrorism experts and senior officials from both sides. Key topics included risk assessment, de-radicalisation, and rehabilitation of violent extremists. Attendees shared best practices and emphasized the importance of collaboration on security issues. The EU delegation consisted of representatives from several EU member states and organizations focused on security. Maciej Stadejek, a senior official from the EU, noted that the workshop highlighted the growing partnership between the EU and India in counterterrorism efforts. He expressed hopes that sharing strategies would strengthen their joint work against violent extremism while upholding democratic values. Dinkar Gupta, a former official of India's National Investigation Agency, stated that both regions face changing security challenges. He underscored the need for innovative solutions through shared learning. This workshop came after discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, about enhancing collaboration in counterterrorism. The workshop aligns with the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy and builds on previous initiatives, including risk management training for Indian security practitioners. The EU and India have been actively working together on counterterrorism since their first joint online workshop on the subject in February 2022. They continue to address the urgent issue of terrorism, particularly its manifestation online.