POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE well as to explain the implementation process and the input required from the regional criminal intelligence units. All proposals discussed and recommendations gathered in the regions were presented to the KP Department of Intelligence and Analysis, and joint final findings and recommendations on the identified challenges were agreed to. On 8 November, the Mission organized the launch of the joint KP and ASP SOCTA report, as a first step towards identifying common threats and their impact on regional security and public safety. The event marked the finalization of this strategic document, and was preceded by a series of activities where analysts from both police services acquired practical knowledge and skills on intelligence gathering, dissemination and analytical techniques for developing the SOCTA report in line with the Europol standards. The joint SOCTA report represents the threat assessment of current serious and organized crime trends, including general threats to security, the economy, and society. 410 copies of the document were printed by the Mission and handed over to the police services, and it is expected to serve as a valuable strategic tool, as well as to contribute enhancing the capacities of these police services in preventing and increasing their responsiveness in combating serious and organized crime. Counter-Terrorism & VERLT Extremist movements have started to spread following the conflict in Kosovo, and they have been influenced by external and internal factors, domestic and foreign individuals and groups who entered Kosovo disguised as humanitarian organizations. Another factor that contributed to the spread of radical and extreme ideologies in Kosovo was the dire economic situation following the conflict, which has affected youth disproportionately. It is estimated that 316 Kosovars have participated in conflict zones, including 44 women and 29 children. Fifty-eight were reportedly killed in these conflict zones. Since 2013, criminal investigations were initiated against more than 290 individuals and, as a result, over 140 people were arrested. Indictments were filed against more than 80 people, with more than 40 of them being sentenced. Local law enforcement institutions were supported in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism and radicalization through several Mission-led capacitybuilding and strategic advisory activities on both the local and regional level, which aimed at developing a multiinstitutional approach to preventing and combating this phenomenon, as well as enhancing regional co-operation between local institutions. The first annual review of the strategy on VERLT was also conducted, having been developed with extensive contribution from the Mission. On 11 March, the Mission’s focal point on VERLT attended a pilot training on a toolkit designed to assist in evaluating programmes that counter violent extremism, organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s TNTD/ATU in Vienna. The evaluation toolkit draws from a state-of-the-art knowledge database on radicalization factors, existing counter violent radicalization interventions, and approaches evaluating these interventions. Participants found the toolkit very useful and gave proposals on possible additions for its final design. In addition, they held a debriefing meeting with the Head of the TNTD/ATU where they shared ideas and discussed the inputs of field operations concerning past, planned and possible future activities in preventing and countering VERLT. All field mission representatives in the region agreed to look into possibilities of drafting extra-budgetary projects with a view to strengthen co-operation on preventing VERLT at the regional level. On 28 and 29 June, the Mission, in close co-operation with the KP Directorate against Terrorism, organized a seminar on the prevention of VERLT. The purpose of this seminar was to promote a multi-dimensional understanding of the threat from VERLT between the KP and religious communities, civil society, safety forums, experts from Kosovo and the media. In addition, the event focused on involving communities and helping them to develop approaches and empower credible local voices to challenge violent extremist narratives. Drafted recommendations were submitted to the Kosovo coordinator of the strategy and action plan on the prevention of VERLT. On 23 and 24 August, the Mission, in co-operation with the Kosovo Security Council Secretariat, organized a seminar on inter-institutional co-operation in the prevention of VERLT. This two-day seminar, in line with the Strategy on Prevention of VERLT, gathered around 30 representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and several other government ministries, the KP, Correctional Service, ICITAP and the Independent Media Commission. Topics discussed included the early identification of factors affecting radicalization and increasing the awareness of institutions and co-operation within the community. Additionally, the seminar focused on co-ordinating institutional activities in preventing violent extremism and radicalization, along with developing and implementing specific programmes for the re-socialization and reintegration of radicalized persons. On 26 and 27 October, the Mission supported the MoIA in hosting the first international conference entitled “Coming Together to Counter Violent Extremism”, which gathered over 200 participants from local, regional and international institutions and organizations, including the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. The conference addressed different aspects and approaches in preventing radicalization and violent extremism, with a special emphasis on the role of security mechanisms, 67