VIRTUOUS en – Research and Projects

The Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies recently participated in a transnational meeting of the VIRTUOUS project, held in Thessaloniki (Greece). During this meeting, the partners of this project – funded by the European Commission’s Internal Security Fund (ISF) – reviewed progress, shared knowledge, and planned the next steps to ensure the successful implementation of this initiative on the protection of places of worship.

A press conference was also held to showcase the project’s progress to local stakeholders, demonstrating its practical contribution to community security and collaboration across sectors. The press conference emphasized the project’s strong commitment to improving community security, fostering cooperation among the actors involved, and delivering tangible results across the participating countries.

José Mª González Riera (Euro-Arab Foundation) during its intervention in the meeting

Professor Nikolaos Dimitriadis, President of the Center for Ecumenical, Apostolic, and Environmental Studies (CEMES), emphasized the symbolic and practical importance of protecting sacred spaces. “Places of worship represent not only faith but the foundation of peaceful coexistence. Thessaloniki has long been a city where Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived together harmoniously. Protecting these spaces is essential to preserving that legacy,” he stated.

Likewise, the press conference highlighted that ensuring security in religious sites is not only about physical protection but also about strengthening resilience, fostering interfaith understanding, and maintaining public trust. A message of support from the Office of the Prime Minister of Greece further reinforced the importance of such initiatives.

The VIRTUOUS Project continues to advocate for coordinated measures that combine faith, knowledge, and community engagement, showing that true security is built on collaboration and solidarity across religious and societal lines.

The launch of VIRTUOUS, a European project financed by the European Fund for Internal Security in which the Euro-Arab Foundation participates as a partner, took place in Limoges (France) on 19 March. During the event, José Mª González Riera, deputy director of the Euro-Arab Foundation’s Research and International Projects Department, outlined the Foundation’s essential role in the project: analysing past terrorist attacks, identifying threat trends, assessing the security of religious sites, and training religious leaders and security experts. In addition, the Foundation will lead the production of microlearning materials for religious communities.

The central objective is to strengthen cooperation and response to threats to places of worship through collaboration between religious communities, authorities and security forces.

Safer and more resilient environments for religious communities

VIRTUOUS proposes an innovative and multi-faceted approach, establishing an unprecedented collaboration between religious communities, authorities, security forces and security service providers. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), the project aims to accurately identify vulnerabilities and improve understanding of potential threats. This effort represents a crucial step towards creating a safer and more resilient environment for religious communities in Europe, based on innovation, cooperation and a strong commitment to the values of the European Union.

The VIRTUOUS project is strategically aligned with key EU documents, including the EU Counter-Terrorism Agenda and the EU Security Union Strategy. By prioritising the physical protection of places of worship and fostering inter-religious dialogue, VIRTUOUS contributes directly to the EU’s objectives of ensuring security and promoting inclusiveness in European societies. In addition, the project emphasises the fight against hatred in all its forms, in line with the Joint Communication ‘No place for hatred: a Europe united against hate’, reinforcing its role in upholding fundamental rights and values.

Key Objectives:

In-depth understanding: analyse trends and recurring patterns of terrorist attacks against places of worship in Europe.
Identification of vulnerabilities: Use innovative technologies to assess and mitigate risks in these spaces.
Awareness and preparedness: Develop recommendations, training programmes and strengthen cooperation between stakeholders.
Broadening the scope: Extend protection to educational institutions and community gathering spaces associated with religious denominations.
Interfaith dialogue: Foster cooperation, communication and dialogue to strengthen the resilience of religious communities.