Foreign Terrorist Fighters & Conflict Zones:

The Council of Europe’s Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT) works to support member States in responding to the complex challenges posed by Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and terrorism linked to conflict zones. As individuals travel to and return from areas of armed conflict, States face evolving legal, security, and human rights issues. Drawing on practical experiences and international co-operation, the CDCT developed guidance and tools to help member States address prevention, prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration. This page brings together key resources designed to strengthen national frameworks and promote effective, coordinated responses to the threats associated with FTFs and conflict zones.

To facilitate this crucial international cooperation, the Council of Europe has established the 24/7 Network of Contact Points on Foreign Terrorist Fighters (37 members). This Network was created to strengthen the rapid exchange of police information on individuals travelling for terrorism purposes, in line with Article 7 of the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 217). Each participating State designated a national contact point available at all times to facilitate urgent information sharing and operational coordination. The Network became operational in 2016 and was expanded in 2019 to include interested observer States and key international partners, such as the European Union and INTERPOL.

Resources:

• Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism [CETS No. 196] (2005)
• Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism [CETS No. 217] (2015)
• Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism [CETS n° 198] (2005)
   
• Guidelines on disengagement and reintegration programmes for women with links to terrorism (2025)
• Guidelines on (re)integration programmes for children affected by terrorism (2025)
• Comparative Practices on the Use of Information Collected in Conflict Zones as Evidence in Criminal Proceedings (2024)
• Good Practices with regard to deradicalisation, disengagement and social reintegration (2023)
• Committee of Ministers' Recommendation on the use of information collected in conflict zones as evidence (2022)
• Committee of Ministers' Recommendation on the risk assessment of individuals indicted or convicted for terrorist offences (2022)
• Committee of Ministers' Guidelines on the links between terrorism and transnational organised crime (2021)
• Committee of Ministers' Recommendation regarding co-operation against terrorism between the Council of Europe and its member states, and the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO – Interpol) (2007)
• Committee of Ministers' Recommendation concerning identity and travel documents and the fight against terrorism (2005)
   
• PACE Resolution 2047 (2015) on the humanitarian consequences of the actions of the terrorist group known as “Islamic State”
• PACE Resolution 2016 (2014) on threats against humanity posed by the terrorist group known as “IS”: violence against Christians and other religious or ethnic communities