Training Needs Analysis stresses the importance of fundamental rights and data protection training at EU level

CEPOL has always ensured that training on fundamental rights for law enforcement receives proper attention and features high on the CEPOL training agenda. The CEPOL EU-STNA report 2022-2025 identified fundamental rights and data protection as a top core capability gap for law enforcement to be addressed via training. Building on the strategic training priorities defined by the EU-STNA and the experience gained from previous OTNA studies, CEPOL launched the OTNA on Fundamental Rights and Data Protection in 2021. The outcomes of the research are presented in this report and will be used to define CEPOL’s 2023-2025 training portfolio in this area.

The most relevant main topics for law enforcement training identified in the OTNA are:

• Data protection
• Impact of digitalisation and use of new technologies on fundamental rights
• General introduction to fundamental rights
• Management training

Although hate crime and hate speech were not identified as the most relevant topics, tackling these is not only a central political priority, but also a core aim of the European Commission, as shown in the work of the High Level Group on combating hate speech and hate crime. CEPOL even co-chairs a working group on hate crime training in order to mainstream this type of training for law enforcement in the Member States.

The overall findings of the OTNA process suggest that there are training needs across a variety of topics related to fundamental rights and data protection, and the related training portfolio should take a holistic approach to also consider factors impacting the operating environment in Europe and the EU’s political priorities. The report also highlights that in order to maintain readiness to provide timely training responding to the needs of the current situation in the EU, e.g. the crisis in Ukraine, the constant assessment and analysis of emerging training needs in the area of fundamental rights must continue.

Finally, considering the EU’s commitment to fundamental rights and CEPOL’s mandate to specifically promote a common respect and understanding of fundamental rights, they should always be given high priority as a horizontal aspect when designing training portfolios, regardless of the topic.

Read the full OTNA report on Fundamental Rights and Data Protection here.

What is behind the OTNA approach?

The CEPOL Regulation mandates the Agency to incorporate training needs assessments and analyses in its planning. CEPOL completed the second EU Strategic Training Needs Assessment (EU-STNA) in 2021, identifying strategic level training priorities for law enforcement officials across Europe for the next 4-year cycle 2022-2025 of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). In order to analyse the particular training needs in more details, CEPOL is conducting the OTNAs.

The OTNA methodology is a structured training needs analysis procedure, which takes into consideration the deliverables of the EU-STNA process. CEPOL designs its multiannual training portfolio building on the outcomes of the OTNAs, which provide a detailed understanding of the number and profile of officials to be trained, as well as on the proficiency and urgency level of training to be delivered.