New deal on CEPOL will improve cross-border police training and cooperation in the EU

Council on 29 June confirmed the informal agreement reached with Parliament's negotiators on an update of the rules governing the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, CEPOL. Parliament's lead MEP Kinga Gál (EPP; HU), welcoming Council's confirmation of the agreement, said:

"The urgency and continuous development of security threats, such as e.g. terrorism and cybercrime, or the growing demand by migratory flows, make it crucial that European law enforcement authorities receive training of highest standard and are equipped with the most modern tools to effectively counter fight organised crime.

– The European dimension of CEPOL’s activity is also instrumental in building mutual trust and cross border cooperation among national law enforcement authorities, which is a key element in combatting criminal organisations which operate more and more at international level.

– Since the beginning of the negotiations, two main issues were crucial in this regulation for the Parliament: on the one hand CEPOL should be established as an independent EU Agency, with clear tasks and accountability, and in line with the Lisbon Treaty, in the shortest possible time; on the other hand fundamental rights should become visible in the agency’s mandate and CEPOL should promote a common respect for and understanding of fundamental rights in law enforcement. We are glad to confirm that we obtained both."