The FREE Initiative

[5][6] The resource was endorsed by Cecilia Malmström, former EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, who stated "Right-wing extremism is increasing right now and it is very worrying.

"[7] Birgitta Ohlsson, Minister for EU Affairs and Democracy Policy publicly stated: "As responsible Minister for democracy policy as well as for European affairs, I am glad that Sweden is leading a comprehensive project in order to collect good practice from across Europe how to prevent and counter the violence-promoting far-right...It is our sincere aim and hope that this project will contribute to a lasting network of practitioners across all the member states of the European Union and that these violent environments, who know of no borders, may be countered jointly.

"[8] In a speech to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Jasenko Selimovic, Former Swedish State Secretary describes the project as "aiming to identify, collect and disseminate best practice regarding the prevention and the countering of far-right extremism across Europe.

"[10] The FREE Initiative includes videos with former perpetrators of far-right extremism and survivors of far-right violence, including Bjørn Ihler, a survivor of the 22 July attacks in Norway and a peace activist, who has gone on to tell his story more widely.

[12][13] According to the Guardian, European policymakers from 10 countries met on 13 February 2014 at a meeting hosted by the Swedish Ministry of Justice to discuss policy recommendations from The FREE Initiative.