Jean Monnet Network on EU Counter-Terrorism kicks-off with three-day conference

The newly established Jean Monnet Network on EU Counter-Terrorism (EUCTER), led by the University of South Wales (USW), will kick-off with a three-day international conference from 15 to 17 December. The conference will bring together key people involved in international counter-terrorism policy and academics involved in the study of terrorism, counter-terrorism and radicalisation.

Speakers at the conference will include: 

• Federica Mogherini (Rector of the College of Europe and former High Representative / Vice President of the European Commission)
• Michèle Coninsx (Assistant Secretary General & Executive Director UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate)
• Christiane Hoehn (Principal Adviser to the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator)
• Claudio Gazelrano (Head of the European Counter Terrorism Centre – Europol)
• Sir Rob Wainwright (former Executive Director of Europol)
• Francisco Fontán Pardo (Head of Counter-Terrorism Division at the European External Action Service)
• Georgia Holmer (Head of Action against Terrorism Unit - OSCE Transnational Threats Department)
• Philippe Rio (Head of EU Sahel Mission)
• Sir Julian King (Former Commissioner for Security & Former UK Ambassador to Paris and Dublin)

A special highlight of the conference will be a lecture on the 20 years of counter-terrorism in Europe’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, by Professor Jörg Monar. 

Professor Christian Kaunert, Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, and the International Centre for Policing and Security (ICPS) at USW, said: “During the conference, we will be exploring the global dimension of EU counter terrorism, as well the many challenges that we are facing such as far right terrorism, terrorist financing, lone-wolf attacks, jihadi radicalisation, the role of gender in peace and security, the challenges of cyberterrorism, and the impact of Covid-19 on counter terrorism as well. Importantly we will also be discussing the future of the EU Agenda for Counter-Terrorism launched on 9 December, bringing together the world of academia with policy makers to draw on our relevant expertise to help drive forward this important agenda.”

The Jean Monnet Network on EU Counter-Terrorism (EUCTER), led by USW, also includes the University of the West of England Bristol and Cardiff University in the UK, Dublin City University in Ireland, the University of Augsburg in Germany, the Egmont Institute in Belgium, the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, the University of Pisa in Italy, CIDOB Barcelona and the University of Deusto Bilbao in Spain, the University of Iasi in Romania, Prague Metropolitan University in the Czech Republic, the IDC Herzliya in Israel and the University of Jendouba in Tunisia.