Month: December 2025

Categories
News PARTES-COM EN

The Euro-Arab Foundation takes part in a European Panel on the Protection of Places of Worship and Religious Communities

On 12 December, the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies took part in the online panel “Protection of Places of Worship and Religious Communities as Critical Infrastructure”, organised by the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip) in cooperation with the University for Continuing Education Krems (UWK) and the European project PARTESS-COM.

The panel brought together researchers and practitioners from different European countries to analyse the current threat environment affecting places of worship and religious communities, which are increasingly exposed to acts of extremism, hate crime and ideologically motivated violence. In this context, religious spaces were addressed as critical infrastructure requiring greater attention in terms of security and resilience.

The Euro-Arab Foundation was represented by José Luis Salido, researcher and project coordinator who highlighted the importance of comprehensive prevention approaches based not only on physical security measures, but also on soft security strategies, community engagement, and improved communication channels between religious communities, local authorities and security actors.

During his presentation, Salido analysed the current global threat landscape and presented the results of a study based on the analysis of 25 hate crime case studies across 13 European countries, highlighting that places of worship and related spaces have become critical targets. Salido delved into the ideological and strategic characteristics of the extremist groups perpetrating these attacks, warning that the transition from hate speech to physical aggression is a growing concern that demands a coordinated response between local authorities, national governments, and European Union institutions

The participation of the Euro-Arab Foundation in this panel reinforces its commitment to applied research, intercultural dialogue and the prevention of violent extremism, in line with its work on European projects focused on social cohesion and democratic security.

The panel was held within the framework of the European project PARTESS-COM, an initiative funded by the European Commission in which the Euro-Arab Foundation is a partner. The project aims to improve the protection of places of worship and religious communities against terrorist and extremist threats by fostering cooperation, communication and trust among religious actors, public authorities and security forces. It promotes preventive and participatory approaches, as well as the development of practical tools and recommendations to strengthen security without compromising fundamental rights or social cohesion.

More information about the event:
https://www.oiip.ac.at/events/online-panel-discussion-protection-of-places-of-worship-and-religious-communities-as-critical-infrastructure/

Categories
News Projects SHIELDed EN

First Meeting of the Local Working Group to Strengthen the Protection of Places of Worship in Granada

This Wednesday, 17 December, the headquarters of the Euro-Arab Foundation hosted the first meeting of the Local Working Group on the Protection of Places of Worship in Granada, a new platform arising from the joint work of the Euro-Arab Foundation and the Granada City Council, with the aim of enhancing the security of religious spaces and communities in the city.

The creation of this Working Group is part of the SHIELDed project, co-funded by the European Commission under the Internal Security Fund, in which the Euro-Arab Foundation participates alongside various partners. This first meeting brought together representatives of Granada’s main religious communities, civil society organisations, academia, and members of the State Security Forces and Corps.

During the meeting, opened by the Executive Secretary of the Euro-Arab Foundation, Antonio Sánchez, and the Councillor for Social Policy, Family, Disability and Older People of the Granada City Council, Amparo Arrabal Martín, the objectives and lines of action of the SHIELDed project were first addressed. Key municipal initiatives were also presented, such as the Municipal Participatory Round Table for Religious Diversity, the Municipal Round Table for Intercultural Dialogue, and the Municipal Observatory against Hate Crimes. These presentations were delivered by Councillor Amparo Arrabal Martín and by the Technical Director and Coordinator of both Municipal Round Tables, María Eugenia Luzón Molero.

The session concluded with a participatory exercise that allowed members of the Working Group to share and express their views on the security of places of worship in the city. Through this exercise, threats, protection needs, challenges, and existing good practices were identified, with the aim of laying the foundations for an action plan to guide the work of the group and define security priorities for religious communities and the institutions involved.

The Euro-Arab Foundation highly values the outcome of this first meeting, highlighting the high level of engagement, interest, and willingness shown by all participants. It also thanks the Granada City Council and the participating organisations for their close collaboration, expressing confidence that this line of joint work will be consolidated over time and that this Working Group will become a useful forum for strengthening coexistence, peace, and security in the city.

Categories
data quality en News Projects

The Euro-Arab Foundation Advances Inclusive Data Practices at DATA EQUALITY Training of Trainers in Athens

The Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies has participated in the Steering Committee and the Training of Trainers (ToT) initiative of the DATA Equality project that took place on December 3rd and 4th at the Center for Security Studies (KEMEA) in Athens, Greece. The ToT’s objective was to ensure that all consortium members fully understand and acquire the skills necessary to utilise and test the new methodology developed by the project. This prepares them to become a pool of expert trainers for the upcoming cascade training phase scheduled for Spring 2026, and that will be developed by the Euro-Arab Foundation.

In addition to the ToT progress, the researcher and project coordinator of the Euro-Arab Foundation, José Luis Salido Medina, and the researcher, Paula Cano Cruz, shared the latest updates of the European Handbook on Equality Data during the Steering Committee.

The Euro-Arab Foundation is part of the consortium of DATA EQUALITY project, an initiative that has developed a methodology to endorse inclusive data practices for civil society. The project has established as a high priority the guarantee of inclusive data practices on the security and justice work fields, giving its impact on citizens, with the Court of Appeal of Venice, Italy, as the coordinator, alongside partners such as the High Prosecutorial Council of Albania.

The Euro-Arab’s contribution is based on its extensive experience on cooperation, training and research between Arab and European States. Therefore, its role is to promote studies and research, platforms and forums, as well as methodology development and capacity building.