European nations are facing an escalating challenge in managing the Muslim Brotherhood and its networks, with growing concerns that the group's activities are expanding beyond religious and social spheres into more sensitive areas including public institutions, education, integration, and political engagement, a phenomenon experts describe as gradual "institutional infiltration."
According to a report by Sky News Arabia, Claudio Bertolotti, Executive Director of START InSight, a firm specializing in strategic and security analysis, cautioned against granting official recognition or formal partnerships to associations linked with the Brotherhood without sufficient scrutiny. He urged European countries to adopt a firm yet cautious approach when dealing with the group's networks.
Bertolotti posits that the Brotherhood's background and its historical and ideological ties to designated terrorist groups necessitate rigorous vetting of associated associations, particularly when they receive public funding or participate in government programs related to education, integration, and social services. The warning extends beyond the funding sources of these associations to how financial backing and institutional relationships can be leveraged into tools for political and social influence.
Bertolotti proposes a five-step European strategy. This begins with imposing complete transparency regarding the sources of funds, the true beneficiaries, intermediaries, and any conditions imposed by foreign financiers. He also advocates for the establishment of European regulations to track interest representation on behalf of third countries. Furthermore, he suggests expanding oversight to encompass institutions, in-kind services, digital campaigns, and influencers receiving funds. A European due diligence platform is also proposed to monitor links between officials of organizations and their affiliated entities or those that have replaced previous associations.
The proposal also includes developing unified standards for government partnerships in education and integration. These standards should be based on respect for the constitutional order, equality, pluralism, and a rejection of incitement to violence and antisemitism. Specific sanctions should be imposed when links to terrorist financing, operational ties, or covert influence activities are proven.
The Italian researcher warns that certain places of worship, centers, and associations, if misused, can become instruments for organized political and social mobilization. He cites practices such as directing votes as a religious duty, pressuring members of expatriate communities, or conditioning electoral support on receiving funding, permits, or political positions. The manipulation of social assistance to influence individual choices is also highlighted.
Bertolotti argues that scrutiny should not be limited to associations but should also encompass potential ideological and organizational links among individuals working within public institutions, education, and universities, especially concerning sensitive positions, public funds, educational programs, and integration policies. He identifies three criteria for assessing risk levels: intent, capability, and access, noting that the danger may not necessarily stem from a direct terrorist act but from a quieter, more gradual process that could affect institutions "without crossing the threshold of criminal behavior."
This perspective reveals a shift in the European discourse surrounding the Brotherhood. The issue, according to the report, is no longer solely about monitoring religious discourse or the activities of specific associations but rather about the capacity of organized, transnational networks to build long-term influence within state and societal institutions. Bertolotti pointed out that existing European measures are necessary but insufficient, referencing France's enhanced oversight under its 2021 law on respecting republican principles and additional measures adopted in July 2025, which expanded administrative dissolution powers, asset freezing, reviews of adherence to republican principles, and training for officials to counter what is termed "institutional infiltration."
The European dilemma, as presented, lies in the fact that institutions often operate within fragmented national frameworks, while Brotherhood networks function with a more adaptable, cross-border logic. This renders security measures alone inadequate and places financial transparency, institutional auditing, and the review of public partnerships at the core of any European strategy to curb the expansion of organized influence.
