2005 EuroCOP Autumn Committee London

EuroCOP Autumn Committee in London marks further strengthening of EuroCOP by Police Unions of Latvia and Romania

On the occasion of the 2005 Autumn EuroCOP Committee, held in London 2-3 November, the representatives of over 600.000 police officers in Europe celebrated the expansion of EuroCOP to encompass 28 Member Organisations from 20 European countries.

Autumn EuroCOP Committee, London

With the newly founded Police Union, Latvia becomes 20^th European country represented within EuroCOP

EuroCOP is further strengthened by the association of this recently founded Latvian Police Union. The EuroCOP Committee, showing full support for their Latvian colleagues, voted unanimously to grant them an Association Membership.

The Latvian Police Society becomes the Latvian Police Union on 1^st January 2006, once official permission from the Latvian Government, to form a police union, becomes effective. Up until now, Latvia, has been the only EU Member State where police officers have not had the right to professional representation. It was only after continued pressure from EuroCOP that the government finally allowed the Latvian Police Officers to form a union.

The EuroCOP Committee noted with satisfaction that since the EuroCOP Conference held in Riga in February 2005, there has been a significant movement on the police representation front. The Latvian Government has recognised the Latvian Police Society as a negotiation partner and has involved them in a number of working groups addressing national policing matters.

The Association Membership is a sign that EuroCOP continues to pledge to do all they can to assist their development.

SNPPC Romania strengthens ties with EuroCOP

After 7 months as Associate Members of EuroCOP, SNPPC have become Observers in EuroCOP. The EuroCOP Committee voted unanimously to grant their Romanian colleagues Observer status, which is seen as the first step towards full membership in EuroCOP.

The Committee acknowledged that SNPPC has consolidated its structures and is becoming stronger at a rapid pace.

The time since their foundation has not proved an easy one. However, the new status in EuroCOP will certainly support SNPPC in its quest to be fully recognised as a negotiating partner by the Romanian government.

EuroCOP delegates emphasised that EuroCOP will continue to support SNPPC in every way they can, to ensure that their development continues.

Delegates outraged at harassment of Police Union representatives in Slovakia:
Strong resolution adopted in support

In the light of recent alarming developments in Slovakia, the EuroCOP Committee, as a sign of solidarity for their Slovakian colleagues, adopted a strong resolution supporting the Slovakian police Union, OzP Slovakia.

Delegates were shocked and outraged at developments that followed the lawful protest of 3000 police officers that was organised by OzP in Bratislava on 25 October 2005. Miroslav Litva, the elected president of the police union was demoted by the Interior Minister, Vladimir Palko. In addition, the Minister has publicly threatened every police officer who participates in further action of the police union with disciplinary consequences.

The resolution calls for an immediate cease to the harassment of police officers active in the police union and demands that the government returns to the negotiation table to sort out its differences with the police union in Slovakia.

Members of the EuroCOP Committee were outraged at these events and have authorised the Executive Committee of EuroCOP to engage in any action that might become necessary to assure that police officers can exercise their rights without fear in the future.

Miroslav Litva, OzP Slovakia

See related press statements:

07.11.2005	End State harassment of Police Union in Slovakia
	EuroCOP Member Organisations outraged at demotion of police union representatives in the Slovak Republic.
31.10.2005	Back to old authoritarian days in Slovakia?
	Interior Minister Sacks Union Boss following disagreement over police wages

EuroCOP recognised by ETUC as the Industry Federation for the police in Europe

Delegates noted with satisfaction that the process of affiliation to the European Trade Union Confederation, ETUC,as Industry Federation for the police in Europe, has been successfully completed. EuroCOP Member Organisations look forward to the first experiences, affiliated to the ETUC, as officially recognised social partner for the police in Europe.

Police standards and integrity and regulation of private security in Europe at top of policy agenda

With two important policy papers the EuroCOP Committee is setting standards in the field of social protection of police officers and the regulation of private security services.

The resolution on police standards and integrity in Europe will serve as a point of reference for improving social and economic standards for police officers throughout Europe. The message is that high levels of professionalism and integrity in policing cannot be achieved on a low budget basis.

The Working Paper on private security standards adopted by delegates is the first ever document that attempts to determine, on a European level,, the basic requirements for regulation of private security services.

It will serve as reference point for the continuing discussions on this issue among EuroCOP Member Organisations.

New EuroCOP Executive Committee Member and 2^nd Vice President elected

Following the retirement of EuroCOP Executive Member and 2^nd Vice President Clint Elliott, Bob Elder from the Police Federation of England and Wales was elected onto the EuroCOP Executive Committee. Jan Schonkeren, SLFP Belgium, who has been an Executive Committee Member since 2003, was elected EuroCOP 2^nd Vice President.

UK Presidency of the EU, highlights intelligence-led policing and removal of barriers as key to information exchange

As on previous occasions, the EuroCOP Committee was attended by representatives of the acting current Presidency of the EU. The UK currently holds the six-month presidency until 31^st December 2005.

Intelligence-led policing was at the centre of presentations by Peter Storr, Director Organised Crime and International Directorate of the British Home Office and Superintendent Mike Flynn, Director of the Joint Operational Authority, Sirene UK.

While Peter Storr outlined that intelligence-led policing, and removing barriers to information exchange will, in turn, lead to better management and analysis of information, Mike Flynn focused on the development of SIS and SIS II and its contribution to cross-border police cooperation in Europe.

Delegates address the fight against terrorism in the wake of London terror attacks

With this meeting taking place in London, police officers from throughout Europe had the opportunity to discuss the consequences and further implications for policing in Europe in the wake of the horrific terror attacks that hit the city in July 2005.

Detective Superintendent Phil Williams from the Metropolitan Police Service gave the EuroCOP Committee a detailed breakdown of the investigation that followed the terror attacks.

Being present in London was also importantly an opportunity for police officers, from all over Europe, to show their wholehearted support for their British colleagues and the families of the victims of the attacks.

Next EuroCOP Committee

The next statutory EuroCOP meeting to take place will be next year’s Spring EuroCOP Committee, to be held in Brussels mid-March 2006.

This coincides with EuroCOP’s recent affiliation to the ETUC who have their headquarters in Brussels.