Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Establishing a European law enforcement training scheme

Transnational crime can only be countered by cross-border cooperation, with police, customs, border guards and other authorities working together. Unless those authorities are properly trained, and unless there is sufficient mutual trust, such cooperation will not be effective.

There has already been considerable progress in implementing training on cross-border matters in the EU. For instance, common curricula and exchange programmes for law enforcement officers have been developed and implemented for a number of years. Member States are involved in this joint effort with EU agencies such as the European Police College (CEPOL), the European Police Office (Europol) and the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex). In 2012, more than 300 exchange programmes between law enforcement officers across the EU were organised. New learning methods, such as CEPOL’s ‘webinars’ were used by more than 3,000 participants in 2012. Participation in EU training is growing, with more than 5,000 enrolled at CEPOL and 3,000 at Frontex last year.

However, more needs to be done, for instance, to raise the profile of EU instruments for police cooperation and the role of EU agencies created to support law enforcement services in fighting crime. More officials should use the resources available to reach their full potential. Training should adequately respond to training needs and more firmly support priorities such as fighting cybercrime and trafficking in drugs and in human beings, agreed at EU level for operational cooperation. Effective coordination between Member States and EU agencies, taking into account the work by international organisations such as Interpol and the United Nations, is needed to ensure a coherent approach to training to the highest quality standards at EU level.

That is why this Communication proposes a European Law Enforcement Training Scheme (hereafter ‘LETS’, or ‘the Training Scheme’) to equip law enforcement officers with the knowledge and skills they need to prevent and combat cross-border crime effectively through efficient cooperation with their EU colleagues.

The Training Scheme aims to make the EU’s response to common security challenges more effective, to raise the standard of policing across the EU and to stimulate the development of a common law enforcement culture as a means of enhancing mutual trust and cooperation. It seeks to identify and address gaps in existing law enforcement training on cross-border matters by supporting and, where appropriate, by coordinating the delivery of training by European and national centres of excellence.

See also:
- Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol) and repealing Decisions 2009/371/JHA and 2005/681/JHA

ESO: Background information: Europol: The EU hub for support to law enforcement cooperation and training http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-europol-the-eu-hub-for-support-to-law-enforcement-cooperation-and-training/

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