The repatriation of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and their families remains one of the most critical and pressing issues in the European Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) discourse, both within the European Union (EU) and at the international level. According to the United Nations Security Council, terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida, Daesh, and their affiliates have attracted over 30,000 FTFs from more than 100 member states in recent years. In November 2019, members of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) issued an open letter urging European member states to initiate a program of managed repatriation for ISIL foreign fighters in Syria. The letter highlighted the dual concerns of security risks and the need to address the potential for child radicalization and involvement in political violence.

To date, states continue to face significant and unprecedented challenges concerning the legal, ethical, and practical aspects of repatriating children of FTFs still abroad, as well as child returnees already on EU soil. Anita Peresin, expert with the European Union Radicalisation Awareness Network (EU RAN), shared valuable insights on repatriation practices and European experiences. She provided lessons from the EU and the Western Balkan countries on managing the return of FTFs and their families, with particular focus on the implications for P/CVE efforts.