Thank you, Minister [for Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh] Shoukry. Thank you, dear Sameh. Thank you to all of you for being here today.

It is my great pleasure to co-host this meeting for the first time with you today. We – the European Union – have been in the role of co-chair for a year now and I would like to thank you, as well as Morocco, [the] previous co-Chair, Minister [for Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of Morocco, Nasser] Bourita – and all [Global] Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) members for what has been done and for our fruitful cooperation.

Together, we are working to make this Forum, first, more dynamic. As global realities and threats evolving quickly, our Forum is a driving force in developing ways and means to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism all over the world.

Secondly, to make it more inclusive. We are working more and more with frontline states, those who are most at threat, and frontline practitioners, from national and local government to community and civil society. We are – all of us – striving to ensure greater gender parity and diversity.

Thirdly, we have to be more focused and action-oriented. The activities presented to the Coordinating Committee and discussions over the past couple of days showcase the potential of this Forum. It is important that our work is underway, for example, on new technologies; on border security and management to tackle the movement of terrorists; or on linking the state and the local levels, where prevention, de-radicalisation and reintegration effectively can effectively take place.

Our meeting today is particularly important. The presence of our colleagues from Kenya and Kuwait testifies our dynamic and inclusive approach.  Minister [for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, Alfred] Mutua, Deputy Minister [for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait] Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, very welcome to this Forum.

By welcoming these two new members, we are broadening the base of this Forum – an expert multilateral forum that develops global solutions to tackle terrorism and its root causes.

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