Lack of competence, lack of action? The European Union legal framework on deradicalisation and its limits

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, deradicalisation has become key in the fight against violent extremism and terrorism. This article aims to clarify what the European Union has done to foster deradicalisation. It is clarified what deradicalisation means under EU law and an account of the relevant legally and non-legally binding acts promoting deradicalisation is provided. As the legally binding acts adopted so far tackle issues that may be related to deradicalisation but none of them is specifically devoted to this topic, the question is raised as to the possibility of adopting a legally binding act addressing deradicalisation. The limits to this kind of approach are identified in the EU's system of competences and the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.