Council
EU ministers agree EU-police partnership
EU Home Affairs ministers have agreed to develop a European police partnership in order to increase cooperation between security authorities. The partnership will focus on improving the exchange of information across borders and increasing funding for EU agencies such as Europol and Frontex to enable them to make better use of new technologies (link).
European Parliament
MEPs call for stronger role for Europol in anti-money laundering
MEPs from the centre-right European People’s Party have called for Europe’s anti-money laundering regime to be more robust (link), ahead of a Parliamentary debate and vote on Friday (10 July). The European Parliament will vote on a resolution that calls for a stronger mandate for Europol to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing. The European Commission will propose new rules to strengthen Europol’s mandate later this year.
European Commission
Commission opens consultation on cybersecurity rules
The European Commission has opened a public consultation reviewing the current rules on the security of network and information systems. The Commission is expected to propose new rules towards the end of the year that will strengthen overall cybersecurity in the EU. The public consultation is open until 2 October (link).
National updates
France: Following a cabinet reshuffle France has a new Interior Minister who will be responsible for policing (link)
Germany: Government will not commission report on racial profiling in the police (link)
Serbia: Amnesty International has issued a statement saying “police violence against Covid-19 protesters in Serbia must stop” following protests across the country (link)
UK: The Independent Office for Police Conduct has announced a review focusing on race discrimination (link)
Other news
Council of Europe warns against racial profiling in policing
The European human rights monitoring body of the Council of Europe, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), has issued a warning against racial profiling in policing (link). ECRI calls on European countries to take action to tackle systemic racism, in particular through:
- Recruitment processes that ensure the composition of the police reflects the diversity of the population
- Human rights training for all police officers
- Frameworks for dialogue and cooperation between the police and minority groups
- Reporting procedures within the police, including protection for whistleblowers
- Support for victims and witnesses of police misconduct
- Independent bodies to investigate incidents of alleged police abuse
Lookahead
- 13 July: The German Minister of the Interior will present to the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee
- 14 July: Commissioner Ylva Johansson (Home Affairs) meets with EuroCOP
- 16 July: The German Minister of Labour and Social Affairs will present to the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee delivers a keynote speech at the online event ‘Black Lives Matter: Europe’s anti-racism moment’, organised by the European Policy Center (EPC)
- 16 July: Commissioner Ylva Johansson (Home Affairs)
…..And finally
Europol launches photography competition
Europol has opened its 2020 law enforcement photography competition. Entries are welcome from professional and amateur photographers working in law enforcement from EU Member States and countries with Europol agreements. Entries can be submitted until 15 August here.