Publication

The authors of this report question two assumptions that often taint European debates on migration and terrorism – 1) refugees are vulnerable to downstream radicalization and recruitment, and 2) refugee flows provide a ‘backdoor’ for terrorists. In the first case, the great majority of those who conducted terrorist attacks in Europe over the last decade were EU citizens. In the second instance, a more nuanced approach is necessary. Yes, European foreign fighters have exploited migration routes to slip back home, but this ability isn’t attributable to a wide open backdoor. Still, the authors admit that specific weaknesses in the EU border management system need to be fixed.