Addressing the Phenomenon of Foreign Fighters: Contributions for Policy and Practice

History demonstrates that foreign fighter (FF) is a phenomenon that occurs quite frequently and is very common even in smaller conflicts. The literature on FF shows that there are security risks posed by them to local populations and to the society they return to. For instance, they might radicalise, engage in criminal networks, be involved in weapons trafficking, and be hired to continue fighting in other conflicts, making a career out of fighting. Despite the identified challenges and security concerns, there is still a dearth of measures – policies, legislation and intervention practices - to adequately address this phenomenon. With the increasing ease in travelling, tensions rising around the world that could lead to conflicts, and individuals who make foreign fighting as a career, it is necessary to draw further attention to this phenomenon. While it is true that the EU Counter-Terrorism agenda mentions the problem of FF in Syria and Iraq, mainly because of terrorism, the EU overlooks the risks posed by FF in other conflicts. Besides considering the risks that FF might pose when battling in conflicts or upon their return to their homeland, preparations for their reintegration should be made, as they have witnessed violence and death and might need psychosocial interventions to deal with mental health problems, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, those who have committed crimes, should also have a criminal investigation and be prosecuted when necessary. Given the high number of Europeans joining the IS, the EU acted fast and developed legislation and policy measures to criminalise and punish FF in an attempt to prevent further people from going. With the conflict in Ukraine since 2014, governments seem to have turned a blind eye, as the treatment has been different. This study aims to address this gap, by contributing to the debate of the EU policy agenda, namely producing innovative recommendations for legislation and policymaking for tackling these problems now and for the prevention of them in the future, based on insights from experts in the field. As such, the author is conducting interviews with policy officers at the European Commission, with law enforcement and police officers at the Europol and national police and security agencies, and with experts in the field. The results, which will be ready before the ECPR General Conference, will deliver multifaceted recommendations encompassing legal, policy, practical, and academic dimensions. By doing this, this study will produce considerable contributions to the debate on FF and for the adaptation of the EU policy agenda to the new shifts in FF phenomenon that the war in Ukraine (and future conflicts) might bring to the EU.