On 18 and 19 October 2017, Council of Europe´s Intercultural Cities network conducted a study visit to Lyon, France to discuss the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization, by bringing examples of how  the  intercultural  integration  approach,  through  education,  culture,  mediation  and  conflict prevention,  can  help  mitigating  growing  fears  of  terrorism  and  radicalisation. It also stimulated a reflection on the role that the actors of the local level in intercultural cities can play in preventing violent extremism and long-term radicalisation.

Among the conclusions, the participants highlighted the following main principles:

• Public policies that aim to prevent radicalisation must be planned on the medium and long term and, as far as possible, shared and supported across political divides.

• Combating radicalisation and violent extremism requires close and coordinated collaboration between all concerned actors, at all levels of governance (local, regional and national) and with the civil society working on the ground.

• Actions to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism must ensure that the root-causes (often social) that make a certain part of society vulnerable to radicalization are addressed, and not just the ideologies.

• States and local authorities should promote a positive image of diversity in all sectors, including in the public and cultural spheres.