The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) has concluded this week a Working Arrangement with the Swiss Police Institute. CEPOL and Switzerland have been working closely together since June 2011, when their cooperation agreement entered into force. The new Working Arrangement, signed by the Executive Director of CEPOL, Dr. h.c. Detlef Schröder and the Director of the Swiss Police Institute, Mr Stefan Aegerter, repeals the cooperation agreement of 2011 and marks the beginning of an even more enhanced and productive collaboration.
Switzerland is associated with several EU policies, in particular regarding the implementation of the Schengen acquis and its development, as well as its participation in the related forms of cross-border law enforcement cooperation. Both the EU and Switzerland have a mutual interest in further enhancing the effectiveness of their law enforcement bodies in the fight against crime. Switzerland has been an important partner of CEPOL for more than a decade. The new Working Arrangement reflects the developments that have taken place during this period, including CEPOL’s legal mandate in 2016, and the new GDPR requirements.
It will also allow to further coordinate standards on law enforcement training, especially regarding cross-border crime, enhance the exchange of best practices and continue to offer Swiss law enforcement officials access to training resources available on CEPOL’s online learning platform, LEEd. Last year, more than 200 Swiss law enforcement officials attended CEPOL online training activities, while over 130 officials attended 54 CEPOL Webinars, covering a wide variety of topics, such as Cybercrime, Schengen & SIS II for SIRENE officers, drug trafficking, money laundering and environmental crime. Law enforcement officials from Switzerland have also participated during the last decade in numerous CEPOL onsite training activities, while experts have been engaged in their implementation.
The agency is looking forward to work even more closely with its Swiss partners in the future, to further improve cross-border law enforcement cooperation.
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