CEPOL National Units discuss topical elements of the agency’s strategic goals

The first CEPOL National Unit (CNU) meeting of 2024 kicked off today at the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) headquarters in Budapest¹. It is the 15^th CNU meeting since the agency’s current mandate entered into force in 2016. 

Chaired by the Head of the Belgian CNU, Ms Vanessa Gay-Para, it will offer participants an opportunity to discuss in person important elements of their work in relation to the agency’s training activities, while CEPOL will provide updates on its latest operational developments and future plans. 

An important highlight of this meeting are two workshop discussions, whose topics have been selected based on important goals of CEPOL’s strategy 2023-2027. Following strategic Goal 2 on fostering a common EU law Enforcement culture via training², the first workshop will focus on the way forward for the CEPOL Cybercrime Academy (CCA), so that it can best respond to the emerging training needs, the changing EU policy context and the latest developments of the national and international cyber training environment. The second workshop will be dedicated to strategic Goal 3 on promoting accreditation of law enforcement vocational training³. More specifically, it will elaborate on the promotion of accreditation and the development of a Sectoral Qualifications Framework (SQF) relevant to EU law enforcement training.

Also on the agenda are updates from the following units of the agency: EU Training Hub (EUTH), International Cooperation (ICU) and Strategic Planning and Directorate (SPDU)⁴. 

CEPOL National Units are one of the most valuable components of our agency’s ecosystem. They are our communication gateway in the Member States, connecting the agency with its potential learners; law enforcement officials who can train with CEPOL to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills that will help them stay ahead of crime in a world where crime knows no borders. We always welcome proposals, ideas and concerns, as they have hands-on experience and expertise on how specific training needs can be addressed at a local level,

 - said CEPOL Executive Director, Montserrat Marín Lopez.

During 9-10 April, CNUs will have fruitful discussions aiming to identify synergies that can improve working methods and facilitate the agency’s training delivery in the future. They will also have the possibility to highlight any difficulties they encounter and exchange views and ideas that could improve their daily work and help maximise the agency’s impact and visibility in the EU Member States. 

¹  CEPOL National Units meet twice a year, approximately one month in advance of the CEPOL Management Board.

²  Goal 2, Strategic objective 2.1. : Provide high-quality training with flagship products that addresses the EU Law Enforcement Training Priorities.

³  Goal 3, Strategic objective 3.1. : Develop a framework for accreditation of training activities corresponding to the EU Law Enforcement Training Priorities.

⁴  In accordance with the goals of the CEPOL strategy 2023-2027, the agency’s organogram was updated this year, to include 4 Units: EUTH, ICU, SPDU and CSD (Corporate Services Unit).