The European Parliament adopted by 506 votes to 90, with 42 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Union agency for law enforcement training (CEPOL), repealing and replacing Council Decision 2005/681/JHA.
The European Parliament’s position, adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure, amended the Commission proposal as follows.
Redefinition of the objectives of CEPOL training: CEPOL should support, develop, implement and coordinate training for law enforcement officials, in particular in the areas of i) prevention of and fight against serious crime affecting two or more Member States and terrorism; ii) maintenance of public order, in particular international policing of major events; and iii) planning and command of Union missions.
The objectives of CEPOL should, while putting particular emphasis on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of law enforcement, be structured in line with the following set of general principles:
- to support Member States in providing training in order to improve basic knowledge of the Union dimension of law enforcement;
- to support Member States, upon their request, in the development of bilateral and regional cooperation through law enforcement training;
- to develop, implement and coordinate training in specific thematic areas;
- to develop, implement and coordinate training in relation to Union missions and law enforcement capacity-building activities in third countries.
That set of general principles should represent the European Law Enforcement Training Scheme (LETS), which aims to ensure that Union level training for law enforcement officials is of a high quality, coherent and consistent.
Training: CEPOL's activities should be focussed on priorities and areas where training can add value for Member States and the Union in line with current and future needs and business requirements.
In its training activities, CEPOL should promote common respect for, and understanding of, fundamental rights in law enforcement, such as i) privacy, ii) data protection, iii) the rights, support and protection of victims, witnesses, and iv) suspects of crime, including safeguarding the rights of victims of gender-based violence.
Research relevant for training: CEPOL should carry out relevant surveys and may develop repositories of available research as well as law enforcement training needs.
Functioning of networks: each Member State should establish or designate a national unit to act as the liaison body with CEPOL within its network of national training institutes for law enforcement officials in the Member States.
Management Board: members of the Management Board and their alternates shall be appointed taking into account the principle of a balanced gender representation.
The Management Board should adopt internal rules regarding the selection procedure of the Executive Director, including the rules on the composition of the selection committee ensuring its independence and impartiality.
Scientific Committee: where appropriate, and taking into consideration business requirements and financial resources, the Management Board may decide, by a majority of two thirds of its members, to establish a Scientific Committee for Training.
When establishing the Scientific Committee for Training, the Management Board shall decide on its composition, its members’ term of office, the frequency of its meetings and its rules of procedure, including its voting rules.
Budget: without prejudice to the principle of prohibition of double financing laid down in the Financial Regulation, CEPOL may manage dedicated Union funds to perform specific activities within the scope of its objectives and tasks.