2006 EuroCOP Autumn Committee Berlin

EuroCOP Autumn Committee

The Czech Republic and Portugal join EuroCOP

(Berlin, Germany, November 2-3rd 2006)

EuroCOP Autumn Committee Berlin

The Reichstag in Berlin
(Courtesy Photo: NOSP, Czech Republic)

By welcoming new members from the Czech Republic and Portugal, EuroCOP now represents 30 police unions in Europe.

Greeting new members from the Czech Republic and Portugal as well as Norrie Flowers from Scotland as a new Executive Committee Member, the EuroCOP Autumn Committee taking place in Berlin on the 2-3 of November couldn't have come of to a better start.

With over 60 participants and delegates present the EuroCOP Committee discussed and voted on various subjects such as finances, political activities and current issues in the Member Organisations.

EuroCOP Committee unanimously elects new members

New EuroCOP Executive Member Norrie Flowers
smiles for the camera

New Executive Committee Member and Trustee elected

One of the first issues on the agenda was the by-election of a new Executive Committee Member. Norrie Flowers, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, UK, was chosen by a unanimous vote.
"It is a strategic choice to elect an English-speaking person for this position, " so Arne Johannessen commented before the vote.
The EuroCOP Committee also elected Miroslav Litva, from the Slovak Police Union, OZP, for the position of Trustee.

The Czech Republic and Portugal new members

EuroCOP President Heinz Kiefer welcomes President of new Czech member organisation, NOSP, Milan Stepanek (who also happend to turn 40)

By adding the Czech Police Union, NOSP and the Portuguese correspondent SINAPOL to its members, EuroCOP is now representing 30 police unions from 23 countries.

The President of NOSP, Milan Stepanek, greeted the Committee decision happily.

"We want to cooperate internationally, with our neighbour states in central Europe, where we believe we are the missing link.

We also want to stabilize our union and improve the work of the police."

Stepanek added:
"Our reputation has really improved in the last years and we especially try to lay our focus on young police officers because they are the future."

Portuguese SINAPOL President Armando Ferreira was also very pleased that its union is now a part of EuroCOP.

"EuroCOP is a winning project and through our membership we will be able to win a strong support of the Portuguese Police."

At present SINAPOL are facing difficult challenges, especially for Police Union Representatives.

Many Police Officers have become subject to disciplinary actions because they have stated their opinions on controversial matters.

"The freedom of expression is not respected by the government, " Ferreira explained.

EuroCOP President Heinz Kiefer greets new observer members
from Portugal and President Armando Ferreira

Observer Member since 2005, Romanian SNPPC, present with four people, decided to apply for full membership in EuroCOP.
President Constantin Vieriu greeted the EuroCOP Committee acceptance of SNPPC with open arms.
"We are now a full part of the EuroCOP family," he said.

German GdP Young Police Group proposes cooperation among young colleagues

Not only the Czechs have their aim set on young police officers. The Germans have been doing it for a long time. German "Junge Gruppe", i.e. Young Police Group" has already been around since 1966 and can now proudly claim 34.000 young police officers as its members. Young in the eyes of the "Young Police Group" means under 30 years of age.
Sascha Göritz and Nils-Torben Zimmermann, both members of the "Junge Gruppe", explained their work.
"We discuss current issues, such as police education and subjects which especially concern young people," Sascha Göritz said during his very colourful presentation, filled with videos, music and interviews.
And of course Europe plays an important part in the work of the Young Police Group.
"There are many areas which could be discussed mutually in EuroCOP. It is very important to exchange information so we as colleagues can get to know each other better to be able to support each other. And the same goes for the Young Police Group".
EuroCOP President Heinz Kiefer was impressed with the presentation.


EuroCOP President is impressed by the presentation of Sascha Göritz of the GdP Young Police Group	Nils-Torben Zimmerman and Sascha Göritz, Young Police Group, GdP, Germany

"The Young Police Group is a very good initiative for young people from GdP and it can very well be the role model for other police unions in Europe. EuroCOP supports all kind of networking among young police officers."

Spanish government fails to fulfil election promises

The newly elected president of AUGC, Joan Miguel Perpyna, addressed the committee with his concerns for the Guardia Civil and the developments in Spain.
"Electoral promises are not being kept", Perpyna said.

For instance the promises made by the Spanish government concerning new disciplinary system and the abolition of military tribunals have not yet been implemented.

The same goes for a formal recognition of the existing professional associations.

Another issue was the present status of the Guardia Civil, an issue already being up for discussion since 2005.
"All military are against a decoupling of the Guardia Civil from the military since they believe it would decrease the military's capacities," Perpyna explained.

Newly elected President of AUGC, Joan Miguel Perpyna on the left with Ocatavio Valle Heras, ELA/ERTZAINTZA, J.Connor, British Police Federation and Linda Mc Cartney, Scottish Police Federation

The EuroCOP Committee expressed its continuous support of the AUGC.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and organise supportive actions in close coordination with AUGC should this become necessary, " President Heinz Kiefer summarized.

Failed dialogue between Catalunya Police Unions and government

A demonstration planned by the SPC Catalunya Police Union was prohibited by the government. The official reason was that Catalunya was in the midst of an election and that the demonstration would interfere with other events.

"They said we had so many other obligations to fulfil so we couldn't demonstrate," Angels Bosch of SPC Catalunya explained to the EuroCOP Committee.

"We are normal citizens too and we have the right to demonstrate when we do it in a peaceful way, just as everyone else!"

After a discussion among the member organisations the EuroCOP Committee stated its serious concern.

Angels Bosch, SPC Catalunya

The Executive Committee has been instructed to continue to monitor the situation and submit a report for the 2007 Spring EuroCOP Committee.

Dr Förster: Germany wants to strengthen Europol

Dr Hans-Jürgen Förster, representing the German Ministry of Interior, presented German's plan of action ahead of its presidency in 2007.

Dr Hans-Jürgen Förster, representing the German Ministry of Interior

In particular Förster talked of strengthening Europol and the importance to work against terrorism and international crime.
"Crime does not stop at the border, we need to exchange information over the borders to be able to fight crime."

German police face hooliganism challenges head-on

Background information and information from international colleagues was essential when preparing for the World Cup in Germany this summer.

Jürgen Schubert, Inspector of Security Alert and in charge during the World Cup talked about the challenges during the games.

"You have to be on location and react fast - we did this and therefore it turned out to be a success".

Jürgen Schubert, Inspector of Security Alert
and in charge during the World Cup

Congress preparations made

The Autumn EuroCOP Committee came to an end by preparing for the upcoming elections taking place during Congress in November 2007.

Roger Randall, BTPF, United Kingdom was elected as chair of the Election Committee, as well as further Election Committee members Lillemor Melin-Swing, SPF Sweden and Willy Baugniet, SNPS Belgium. The committee’s tasks are to oversee the nominations and to chair congress during the elections at congress.


President of EuroCOP Heinz Kiefer summarizes the EuroCOP Autumn Committee

All in all, the committee looks forward to the time ahead and President Heinz Kiefer rounded the meeting up:
"There is still a lot of work to be done in Europe in order for all police officers to have the rights they are entitled to, and we are ready to face these challenges."

The next statutory EuroCOP meeting to take place will be next year's Spring EuroCOP Committee, to be held in Oslo 12-13th of March 2007.

Nordiska cooperation. SPF re-elected Jan Karlsen and Peer Withagen, Politiforbundet i Danmark smile for the camera

	President of EuroCOP Heinz Kiefer congratulates Miroslav Litva, OZP, Slovakia on his new function as Trustee