This online Policy Dialogue, held in cooperation with the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), on 9 November 2020, marked the launch event of the joint EPC-CEP publication Marching Home? Why repatriating Foreign Fighters must be a pan-European priority.

Speakers emphasized the importance of repatriating European nationals held in prison and in refugee camps in Syria and Iraq, and related challenges. David Ibsen, Executive Director of CEP, referred to the scale of the problem and prevailing views. EPC Chief Executive Fabian Zuleeg highlighted the need to find long-term solutions. Ian Acheson, CEP Senior Adviser, summarised the main findings of the report and recommendations. Letta Tayler, Senior Researcher and Terrorism/Counterterrorism lead at Human Rights Watch, provided an overview of the situation on the ground focusing on children and the human rights aspect. Tanya Mehra, Senior Project Leader at the International Centre for Counter-terrorism in The Hague, shed light on the difficulties of prosecuting foreign terrorist fighters and stressed the role of narrative. EPC Senior Policy Analyst Amanda Paul moderated the discussion.