CEPOL course “Instruments and Systems of European Police Cooperation in German” attracted 18 participants from German speaking and non German speaking Member States.
The course aim was to enable the participants to compare and put together different policing systems within the European context, to increase knowledge of EU institutions and to make increased use of police terminology within the host countries. A main focal point of the course was to increase competencies in reading, understanding and speaking German and Austrian (police) terminology.
The teaching method employed consisted of a mixture of language training in small groups, presentations on police systems and European police cooperation, as well as excursions to convert theory into practice. Udo Karls from the German Federal Criminal Police Office, among others, gave a presentation on international police cooperation. Michael Grotz, National German Member at Eurojust described the work of the agency.
A study visit to the joint German-Dutch police station in Dinxperlo (the Netherlands), gave a practical insight into cross-border work. Hans-Peter Planitza, National Europol Office of the Austrian Federal Criminal Police explained the work of Europol while Michaela Frank, Austrian Federal Asylum Office, gave the participants an insight into Austrian asylum practices.
Visits to Austria’s Federal Parliament, the Vienna City Police Office, the Cologne Police Headquarters, as well as having the opportunity to witness police operations during a football match, were regarded by all as the highlights of the course.
During the weekends, efforts to transmit Austrian and German cultures and lifestyles were made by visiting the Ruhr (the 2010 European Capital of Culture) and the city of Vienna and its picturesque surroundings.
This double venue event hosted in Münster (Germany) and Traiskirchen (near Vienna, Austria) was organised by the German Police University and the Austrian Security Academy of the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Austria (.SIAK) respectively from 12 to 30 April 2010.
At the end of the three week course one participant concluded: “We have learned a multitude of technical terms we can use at work. Communicating with the other participants was very intensive and pleasant. This CEPOL course has considerably contributed to a better understanding of other cultures and colleagues have become friends.”
