CEPA-Workshop „Foreign Fighters“
From 28 – 30 October 2015 a Workshop focussed on the theme „Foreign Fighters“ took place at the “Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei (DHPol)” in Münster.
This topic ranges at a very high level on the list of priorities and related concerns to them. Thus, this problem can be solved by a cross-border and co-ordinated approach within the international community of countries. Given this, experts from Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary and Germany met at the DHPol, in order to discuss this issue under the specific aspect of Islamic terrorism. The theological and religious-historical bases of Islamism and the challenges related to Islamic terrorism for each police organization were discussed, as well as the options for repressive and preventive measures available in the individual countries.
This event was rounded up by drafting a document regarding measures and recommendations, how this issue can be dealt with on the international level. All participants agreed upon the fact that Islamism is a permanent task, which necessitates an adjustment of the resources, specifically in the field of training. In this respect the participants expressed their opinion that a continuation of this seminar would be highly desirable.
CEPA Special Seminar „QUO VADIS SCHENGEN? II“
From 26 to 20 October the Special Seminar with the topic „QUO VADIS SCHENGEN?“ took place in Bratislava as a joint activity organized by the CEPA-National Units of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
Eleven participants, originating from five of the seven CEPA Member States came together in Bratislava in order to enter into deliberations about the Schengen Framework. The participants had the opportunity to reflect their perceptions with experts in this field and to discuss their experiences stemming from the practice. The current situation in Europe induced the organizers of the Academy of the Police Corps of Bratislava to launch an international conference connected to this Seminar under the aegis of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic. All participants of this Seminar organized by the CEPA participated in the theoretical as well as the practical part of the abovementioned conference. One participant from Germany gave a presentation concerning the current status of the mass migration flows in country. In the course of the Seminar, all participants took the floor to explain the present situation in their country. A historico-cultural guided city tour and a communal dinner in a typical village nearby Bratislava rounded up the programme of the Seminar.
Ceremonial completion the 21st CEPA Special Course in Budapest
On 9 October 2015 the completion ceremony of the 21 CEPA Special Course “Cross-Border Co-Operation on Compensatory Measures and on Border Actions” took place in the premises of the International Centre for Advanced Training of the Ministry of the Interior of Hungary. Several high ranking officials attended this event.
From the 14 September until the 9 October 2015 18 police officers from the seven CEPA Member States had the opportunity to participate in this Course; lasting for four weeks. The course took place at the locations Holesov, Bad Endorf, Ljubljana and Buapest.
Main emphasis was placed on the most recent developments in investigating and combatting strategies in the field of compensatory measures within the internal borders of the EU and their results resp. impact on the various forms of criminality. It goes without saying that plenty of room was given to the highly topical subject of “mass migration” and “migration flows towards Europe”, which were discussed into depth and in a broad context within this 21st Special Course.
The findings of the workshop were based upon the topic “mass migration” and were focussed on the most recent developments, which had been elaborated by the course participants in written and presented in front of a forum of international high-ranking representatives. The results of these workshops dealing with this issue were not only a “hot topic”, but confirmed moreover the very tense situation in Europe from the perspective of police officers of the CEPA Member States.
The Deputy Head of the Department for Border Police Affairs of the State’s Police Presidium of Hungary, Lieutenant Colonel Mag. László VÁJLOK highlighted in his ceremonial address the importance of the CEPA in the context of international police co-operation. The spokesperson of the Course, a German police officer, underlined in his speech the uniqueness of the advanced training of the CEPA and thanked all officials responsible for the preparation and the implementation of this Course.
The Director-General of the International Centre for Advanced Training of the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior, Dr. István FARKAS handed over the certificates to the participants who passed successfully the Course.
To sum it up, the 21st CEPA Special Course ended as a great achievement in the field of “border policing” and proved the fact that in situations like the current one international police co-operation in the training fields, as provided by the CEPA are indispensable.
CEPA Special Seminar „Asset Recovery“
From 28 September to 2 October 2015 the CEPA Seminar “Asset Recovery” took place in Solothurn, one of the most beautiful baroque cities of Switzerland.
26 Participants from five of the seven Member States as well as from the Principality of Liechtenstein took the opportunity to attend the programme which was elaborated by the Federal Criminal Police (“Bundeskriminalpolizei”).
Lecturers from the Federal Prosecutor, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Kanton Zürich, the Federal Office of Justice and the Federal Criminal Police gave an insight into the legal fundaments of the Switzerland concerning the topic “Asset Recovery”, presented practical examples and introduced the participants into the solution-finding processes by the means of a real case.
The participants contributed to the seminar based on their own experience, referring to the possibilities of asset recovery in their home-country.
Finally, a historico-cultural guided tour under the motto “Robbers, murderers, judges and hangmen – justice in ancient Solothurn, followed by a dinner in the restaurant “Altes Spital”, formed the end of the seminar.
Follow-up Seminar for the participants of the MEPA Main Course of the years 1994, 1995, 2008, 2009 and 2011 in Budapest
In the premises of the Centre for International Further Training of the Ministry of the Interior of Hungary (BM NOK –ZIF)in Budapest, a total of 33 CEPA-Main-Course participants form Austria, Germany, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Poland and Hungary had the opportunity to reunite and to revive their acquaintance. The event was opened by the Hungarian Member of the MEPA Board of Trustees, Colonel Dr. Istvan FARKAS, Director General of the ZIF. Main objective of this seminar was the updating of the knowledge and information of the course participants about the new forms of organized crime, specific perpetrator techniques and offenses. Furthermore, the discussion about new means and methodologies with regard to the prevention and combatting of criminality in the international context. An essential part of this seminar was – according to the motto of the CEPA – the exchange of experience and knowledge, gained by the practice and the refreshment of the language skills of the participants. During the two-and-a-half day duration of the seminar the participants had the opportunity to attend – in a very relaxed atmosphere - presentations, which were held chiefly by the participants themselves, regarding the combatting of serious crime, the international police co-operation and solution-oriented approaches. The variety of themes has to be called as a very broad one, the participants were made accustomed to new forms on phenomenon and modi operandi. Specifically the presentation about case-studies dealing with criminal matters attracted specific interest. The success of these investigations could not have been achieved without the direct contact of the colleagues and the contact between the respective authorities. Of high significance were the statements of the course participants of the years 1994 and 1995, and their impressions about the development of the CEPA over the years up to the current state of the organization.
Start of the 21st CEPA Special Course 2015 in Holesov/CZ
On September 14 2015 in Holesov – Czech Republic – the opening ceremony of the 21 CEPA Special Course “Cross-Border Co-Operation on Compensatory Measures and on Border Actions” took place
The responsible leader of the course, Mr. Leos Brada, Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic welcomed warmly the participants in their first week of the course and wished them successful and productive studies. The Director of the Police Region of Zlin, Colonel Tkadlecek and the Deputy Director of the Police School of Holešov, Colonel Rohal stressed the importance of the international co-operation on this topic, given the fact that the migration flows into Europe seem to be continuously without an end in sight. The representative of the Czech Republic praised the role of the CEPA in the context of advanced police training within the training landscape in Europe. The representative of the Central Coordination Office of Austria, Mr. Tober, and the representative of the National Liaison Office of the CEPA – Hungary, Colonel Feher, welcomed the participants as well; both expressed their thanks to the course organizers of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. The specific significance of this training, which has to be considered unique in Europe, was highlighted in their addresses. The current migration flows led specifically to a huge increase in the areas of trafficking in human beings and human smuggling, thus an international co-operation is indispensable. The 18 participants, originating from the 7 Member States of the CEPA will be made familiar with the various operational methods as well as the working culture of the police organizations in the locations Holesov, Bad Endorf, Ljubljana and Budapest. Lecturers from Switzerland, the Slovak Republic and Austria will give presentations in close co-operation with the national specialists on the topic of border issues. Legal and international regulations will encompass the theoretic part of the programme. The participants will also be made familiarised with the operative proceedings by the means of excursions and practical exercises in the individual Member States which carry out this course. Furthermore, several workshops will be organized for the participants. The workshops will be conducted by Benno Sigg, Akim Yazici and Rene Döhla, and are split into three topics resp. issues. These lecturers will instruct and tender advice to the course participants during the duration of the course. At the end of the course, which is scheduled for the 9 October 2015 in Budapest, the participants have to present the results and the findings of their workshops in front of an expert panel. The written work will be made available for information purposes on the CEPA-Homepage.
Conference of the course leaders in Budenheim
From 7 to 10 September 2015 the annual „Conference of the course leaders“ of the Central European Police Academy took place in Budenheim/Germany. The agenda dealt chiefly with the upcoming 24th “Main Course”, as well as the 2nd CEPA Organzied Crime Course in English. After a feedback session with the spokesperson of the Course an evaluation and exchange of views regarding the scheduled activities for 2016 took place. By these “lessons learned”, the necessary modifications and adjustments were scrutinized and a unanimous consensus was achieved. The programme of the “Main Course” and the 2nd OC-Course for 2016 were endorsed, hence this meeting could be considered to be held efficiently and in the light of a successful continuation of the work of the CEPA
MEPA Expert Seminar on "Fighting International Vehicle Crime"
As a member of the Central European Police Academy (CEPA), the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), in cooperation and with the support of Austria and Slovenia, organised and implemented an expert seminar on “Fighting international vehicle crime” from 6 – 10 July 2015. The seminar was attended by 25 criminal and border police officers from different professional fields of activity but all with sufficient links to and knowledge of the seminar issue. Unfortunately, also for this seminar no participants from the Czech Republic could be recruited. The contents of the first seminar day were treated by an officer from the BKA unit responsible for this field of crime, describing among other things the situation and basics of vehicle identification. On the following days, lecturers from Slovenia and Austria treated phenomenological problems and presented training possibilities for fighting international vehicle crime. The participants themselves also contributed to the seminar by giving short presentations but also by commenting on and discussing the presentations of the main lecturers. All this ensured an extensive and far-reaching exchange of information between lecturers and seminar participants. This way this seminar also served as a successful contribution to achieving a “common declaration” of the Central European Police Academy.
Extraordinary Project Leader Meeting in Stuttgart, 5 to 7 August 2015
From 5 to 7 August 2015 an extraordinary meeting of the Project Leaders took place in Stuttgart in the Präsidium “Logistik, Technik und Service” of the Police of Baden-Württemberg.
Subject of this meeting were technical issues stemming from the implementation of the Website “MEPA-ONLINE” in English. At this meeting consent was found that the new functionalities will be established in close co-operation with the respective authority of Baden-Württemberg, i.e. “BITBW” (Landesbehörde IT Baden-Württemberg). Basically, it is intended to carry out a change towards a new software with new, more user-friendly features, by the means of SharePoint 2013.
CEPA Seminar ”Internationally Organised Drug Crime“
From 22 – 26 June 2015, an expert seminar on the issue of “Internationally organised drug crime” run by Joachim Fischer from the State Criminal Police Office of Baden-Württemberg and Michael Wolfarth from the Police University of Baden-Württemberg was held for the third year in series at the Wertheim branch of the Police University of Baden-Württemberg. The seminar was focused on today’s Europe wide problems of dealing with the so-called “new psycho-active substances” (npS) / research chemicals, international cooperation when working on drug crimes as well as treating the Crystal meth problem in Europe. A further main topic was “Internet drug traffic” and here in particular the so-called “Dark Net” with different investigation methods. From seven CEPA member states a total of 21 participants from 5 CEPA countries were sent to the seminar.