European Confederation of Police
EuroCOP
The European Confederation of Police is the umbrella organisation for Police Unions and Police Staff Associations
ID: 303115848497-82
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU Drugs Strategy and European Action Plan Against Drug Trafficking
26 Sept 2025
EuroCOP Contribution to the Call for Evidence on the EU Drugs Strategy and EU Action Plan against Drug Trafficking The European Confederation of Police (EuroCOP), representing police unions and staff organisations across Europe, welcomes the Commissions initiative to strengthen the EU drugs strategy and develop an EU action plan against drug trafficking. We particularly welcome the fact that the action plan will provide public institutions, law enforcement authorities, customs authorities, the judiciary and other public and private organisations with the tools to prevent, protect themselves from and respond to the security threats posed by criminal networks involved in drug trafficking. Boosting support for law enforcement and judicial authorities in investigating and prosecuting serious and organised drug crime is vital to safeguard European societies. From the perspective of police officers working on the frontline, drug trafficking is directly linked to rising levels of violence, corruption and intimidation. Officers face increasing risks, including targeted attacks, as criminal groups adopt more aggressive methods to protect their profits. This not only undermines internal security but also places immense strain on the working conditions and well-being of officers. EuroCOP therefore stresses the importance of: Ensuring the protection and resilience of police officers through improved working conditions, psychosocial support and protective measures against violence and intimidation linked to drug trafficking. Addressing violence against police officers as a distinct and urgent challenge, recognising that organised criminal groups increasingly target law enforcement personnel. Strengthening cross-border cooperation, training and information-sharing so that officers at all levels not only national units have the real-time data and resources needed to respond effectively to drug-related organised crime. Investing in capacity-building and training for officers to adapt to evolving threats, including the use of new technologies by criminal networks. Police officers are the backbone of Europes response to drug trafficking. Their safety, training and operational effectiveness must be at the heart of EU policy. EuroCOP stands ready to work with the European Commission to ensure that the new EU drugs strategy and action plan deliver tangible improvements both for the security of our societies and for the protection of those tasked with defending them.
Read full responseMeeting with Michalis Hadjipantela (Member of the European Parliament)
3 Sept 2025 · Follow-up Meeting
Meeting with Tomas Tobé (Member of the European Parliament)
3 Sept 2025 · Law Enforcement Policy
Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament)
3 Sept 2025 · Working conditions of police officers
Meeting with Maravillas Abadía Jover (Member of the European Parliament)
3 Sept 2025 · Protección Agentes de Policia
Response to Proposal for a new Regulation on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol)
25 Jul 2025
European Confederation of Police contribution to the Call for Evidence on Law enforcement cooperation new Europol regulation EuroCOP, the European Confederation of Police is the umbrella organisation for police unions and staff organisations in Europe. EuroCOP represents the voice of over 250,000 police officers through member unions and staff organisations across 26 European countries. As a representative body of frontline officers who uphold the EUs internal security, EuroCOP welcomes the European Commissions initiative to assess and strengthen Europols role through targeted amendments to its Regulation. EuroCOP agrees with the need to improve in particular one of the 3 aspects pointed in the Call for Evidence: support and strengthening of action by competent authorities in the Member States, including by processing operational data in its role as the EU criminal information hub. 1. General support for targeted amendments to Europol regulation We support the objective to enhance Europols capabilities as the EU criminal information hub, including: Better articulation of tasks and flexibility to address emerging threats; More effective operational support to Member States; Stronger inter-agency cooperation and real-time intelligence sharing. However, a stronger Europol must go hand in hand with stronger support for law enforcement officers on the ground. The system can only be effective if those who implement it are safe, properly equipped, and fully involved in the cooperation chain. 2. Key recommendation from EuroCOP a. Recognise and Address Violence Against Police Violence and hate speech targeting police are rising across Europe and threaten the resilience of internal security. Proposal: Include violence against law enforcement officers as a crime area under Europols mandate (new point in Annex I referred in Art. 3(1)). Create a European Observatory on Violence Against Police Officers, managed in cooperation with CEPOL or housed within Europol. b. Strengthen Support for Frontline Forces Europols capabilities must not remain HQ-centric. The operational gap at the local level is significant. Proposal: Introduce an EU Operational Capacity Fund (new Article 41a) to finance training, technology, and staffing where crime risks are highest. Improve direct cooperation with regional and local police authorities, respecting Member States and local frameworks (revise Art. 4(1)(d)). c. Institutionalise Data Collection on Officer Safety Current EU-level data on attacks, stress, and trauma among officers is fragmented. Proposal: Introduce a new clause under Art. 7 (Europol National Units) requiring Europol to systematically collect and analyse data on risks to police officers, supporting evidence-based policy on safety and training. 3. Conclusions Europol must become more operational and future-ready. But for it to succeed, Member States must be supported where policing happens: on the streets, in communities and at borders. The Commissions review is an opportunity to embed the protection, empowerment, and recognition of police officers within the heart of EU internal security strategy. EuroCOP stands ready to work with the Commission, Parliament, and Member States to ensure the new Europol Regulation reflects these realities. European Confederation of Police EU - Transparency Number 303115848497-82 Contact@eurocop-police.org
Read full responseResponse to New rules on fighting organised crime
24 Jun 2025
European Confederation of Police contribution to the consultation on Fighting organised crime New EU rules The European Confederation of Police (EuroCOP), representing the voice of police officers across 25 European countries, welcomes the European Commissions intention to revise and strengthen the EUs legal and strategic framework to fight organised crime. We support this legislative initiative and appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the consultation process.
Read full responseResponse to European Democracy Shield
18 Apr 2025
. +352/43 49 61-1 contact@eurocop-police.org Call for Evidence on the European Democracy Shield Contribution by EuroCOP The European Confederation of Police EuroCOP, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to establish a European Democracy Shield as a strategic response to the growing threats to democratic systems and societal resilience across the European Union. Representing law enforcement professionals from across the EU and beyond, EuroCOP is uniquely positioned to witness first-hand the societal effects of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), disinformation, and other hybrid threats that destabilize communities, erode public trust and threaten the security and democratic integrity of the EU. 1. Ensuring Stability and Public Trust through Security Sector Involvement Foreign information manipulation and disinformation campaigns are not only a matter of public discourse but a tangible threat to public order and democratic stability. Law enforcement agencies are often at the frontline in responding to the social unrest and polarisation these campaigns may provoke. EuroCOP strongly supports the European Democracy Shield's emphasis on: Enhancing media literacy and public awareness, Enabling fact-checking networks across all EU languages, and Enforcing frameworks such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the AI Act to ensure accountability from digital platforms. We also welcome the establishment of a Special Committee of the European Parliament dedicated to the Democracy Shield. 2. The Role of Law Enforcement in Resilient Democracies The proposed Shield rightly calls for a whole-of-society approach. In this regard, police officers must be formally recognised as strategic partners in efforts to safeguard democracy. Police officers across Europe are not only enforcers of the law but guardians of democratic freedoms, often acting as a stabilising presence during elections, demonstrations and in times of public crisis. We also draw attention to the recent proposal for a Union Act submitted under Rule 47(2) of the European Parliaments Rules of Procedure, which recognises the high-risk nature of policing and other security roles. This initiative emphasizes the need for uniform recognition and protection of these professions to ensure democratic security across borders. In the context of the Democracy Shield, this recognition must include the vital contribution of the police in resisting disinformation-induced threats & ensuring social cohesion. 3. Strengthening the Framework: Recommendations Cross-sector coordination: Ensure that police services, especially cybercrime and intelligence units, are involved in strategic discussions and operational frameworks of the Shield. Training and tools: Provide EU-funded training to law enforcement personnel on detecting & responding to online disinformation campaigns that threaten public security. Crisis communication support: Establish protocols to support law enforcement in countering online narratives during crises, including real-time collaboration with verified fact-checkers and online platforms. Protection of democratic spaces: Enhance support for police forces during elections or public gatherings where disinformation may seek to incite violence or unrest. 4 Final Remarks EuroCOP commends the Commissions intention to consolidate and enhance Europes democratic resilience through a strategic, adaptable and proactive initiative. Democracy must be defended not only through regulation and education but also through robust on-the-ground protection provided by trusted institutions like law enforcement. As the European Democracy Shield develops, EuroCOP stands ready to contribute expertise, foster cross-border cooperation and uphold the rule of law in defending the democratic values that form the foundation of the European Union. European Confederation of Police - EU - Transparency Number 303115848497-8
Read full responseResponse to Evaluation of the Council Framework Decision on criminal acts and applicable penalties for drug trafficking
4 Feb 2025
The EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 and its Action Plan set the right priorities by pursuing the fight against drug trafficking with a comprehensive approach. Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA establishes minimum provisions on drug trafficking offenses. It is meant in particular to ensure : unhindered cross-border cooperation between judicial, law enforcement, customs and other competent authorities in the Member States; that Member States impose effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties, including custodial sentences, depending on the quantity and type of drugs trafficked and the involvement of criminal organisations. However, one has to acknowledge that it did not prove successful: Drug-related crimes and in particular violence against police officers is on the rise The time devoted by the police to deal with drug offences is also increasing. In France, police efforts focus mainly on consumer repression, accounting for 80 % of law enforcement operations on drugs Besides, the Framework Decision is becoming increasingly misaligned with modern developments such as the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis in certain Member States. Indeed, the criminal laws of EU Member States differ from one another when it comes to cultivation, manufacture and trafficking of drugs. It is therefore key to identify outdated elements and to focus on new challenges such as digitalisation and the growing role of online drug trafficking. It is necessary to further harmonise definitions, penalties and measures against drug-related offences in the Member States. This will make cross-border investigations easier and more effective. EuroCOP welcomes the Commission initiative to consult and review the Framework Decision on illicit drug trafficking.
Read full responseResponse to Firearms Trafficking Directive
8 Dec 2024
EuroCOP is the umbrella organisation for police unions and staff organisations in Europe. We represent 30 police unions and staff organisations across Europe as well as over 230,000 police officers in 25 European countries. EuroCOP is tackling issues from police cooperation across borders to a safer working environment for police officers on the street. We are determined to contribute to European policy debates and provide added value by giving a practitioners perspective. European police forces keep our society safe and secure. We want Europe to be the place, where police officers are operating together in an environment of safety and support, provided with the rights, resources, and training to keep Europes citizens safe and secure. In this respect, firearms offenses are one of the biggest criminal threats. Member States should get incentives to equip their national legal systems with proportionate and stronger punishments against illicit firearms activities that should actually act as preventative measures. In more concrete terms, EuroCOP supports: the creation of an EU-wide registry for 3D printers, following the policy options outlined under Option 2; Option 3: adding complementary optional and voluntary offences mobilizing first reponders and other public services such as illicit reactivation of deactivated weapons, illicit brokering, arms embargo violations, illicit possession and carrying, misconduct in the context of record-keeping and licensing. Levelling up sanctions against firearms offenses. Extending the scope of the Directive to include non-lethal gas weapons, pneumatic weapons and other weapons in order to limit access to them for non-minors. A separate category should be established for these weapons, defining clear safety requirements, including age ratings and the responsibilities of the owners. Creating a common EU database containing comprehensive information on all firearms seized in the EU. This database would help law enforcement agencies identify criminal networks, track weapons flows. Putting in place an EU-level search tool that allows law enforcement officers to quickly check whether a particular firearm is legally registered in an EU Member State. EuroCOP therefore supports Option 3 which offers the highest level of safety for police officers: A Directive harmonising the definitions and classifications of a wider set of firearms-related offences, and of sanctions/penalties related to these. The Roadmap of the European Commission for the mandate 2024-2029 includes the strengthening of Europol in budget, staff and competences. This agency should get the means to ease the above measures, in particular the registry for 3D printers, the EU database on seized firearms and the exchange of information.
Read full responseMeeting with Pascal Arimont (Member of the European Parliament)
16 Oct 2024 · A safer working environment for police officers
Response to Combating child sexual abuse
13 May 2024
The European Confederation of Police (EuroCOP) is the umbrella organisation for police unions and staff organisations in Europe. We are representing member countries of the European Union or the Council of Europe, which translates currently into over 230,000 police officers in 25 European countries. EuroCOP shares the view expressed in the Impact Assessment of the proposed directive that child sexual abuse affects public security. It therefore directly impacts the work of police officers and can be emotionally challenging to manage. Therefore, EuroCOP supports the measures proposed to update and improve the approach to tackle CSA: 1. Ensure criminalisation of all forms of CSA including those facilitated by technological developments like paedophile handbooks and the dark web. However, investigation into CSA materials should not be criminalised to avoid adding difficulties to the work of investigators. 2. Ensure that national rules on investigation and prosecution take into account recent technological developments including causing a child to engage in sexual activities without coercion 3. Improve prevention & assistance to victims to ensure that easily accessible and child-friendly reporting channels are available 4. Promote better coordination across Member States and, at the national level, among all parties involved. 5. Make it possible, for an extended period of time to take into account the lasting fear and trauma that often hinders reporting, for survivors to file complaints and to claim compensation for damages EuroCOP wants to draw a particular attention to the following provisions : - Article 28 requires Member States to promote regular training not only for front-line police officers likely to come into contact with CSA but also for judges and other relevant professionals, to ensure child-friendly justice. - New Article 31 obliges Member States to : 1. Collect periodically statistics on the offences included in the Directive following a common methodology developed in cooperation with the EU Centre to prevent CSA. a. The EU Centre would support Member States in the data gathering for offences including by establishing common standards on counting units, counting rules, common disaggregations, reporting formats, and on the classification of criminal offences 2. Share those statistics with the EU Centre and the Commission 3. The EU Centre in turn should compile all statistics received and make the compilation publicly available. 4. Member States are required to support research on root causes, effects, incidences, effective prevention measures, effective victim assistance measures, and conviction rates for the forms of offences covered by the proposal. 5. Lastly, on the basis of the above, the Commission will provide implementation reports every 5 years, which will be accompanied by proposals for amendment as needed (article 32). EuroCOP strongly supports the above measures: - They should have an impact on the understanding of the causes of CSA and will help address them; - EuroCOP and its members keep requesting adequate training : A police officer responsible for road traffic has other needs than a police officer in charge of CSA. The latter also has specific cooperation needs with the judiciary. - Last but not least, the methodology related to data collection and use may also inspire similar approach to collecting data on violence against the police. Finally, EuroCOP would like to stress that the Commissions efforts to improve international co-operation and co-ordination between Member States are in vain if the central governments themselves do not make a commitment to incorporate the same willingness to co-operate internally. There are still gaps in this sense and we have to bear in mind that a failure to cooperate in one place (weakest link) can have fatal consequences for the rest of the European territory.
Read full responseResponse to Amendment of Commission Implementing Directive 2019/68 on the minimum depth of marking of firearms
28 Sept 2023
Response to EU consultation on weapons marking depth Summary EuroCOP, the European confederation of police officers, recommends the EU harmonises its proposed weapons marking depth implementing directive with existing UN recommendations on weapons marking depth. The UN Programme of Action Modular Small Arms Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) provide practical and appropriate guidelines on weapons marking depth. MOSAIC Module 05.30 recommends a marking depth of 0.10mm for metals and 0.20mm for polymer materials. MOSAIC is used by international arms control organisations to develop host-nations capacity and ensuring regional tracing and tracking of firearms, and interoperability. Given the historical and recent incidents of firearms tracking from EU neighbours into the bloc, EuroCOP recommends that the EU match the established international technical guidelines to its neighbours, allies, and partners to meet a high shared standard of traceability. When using modern weapons marking equipment such as dot peen machines there is no extra cost burden associated with achieving a 0.10 mm mark compared to a 0.08mm mark, but a great increase in recoverability. Accordingly there is little technical justification for marking to a shallower depth when marking deeper is possible and allows easier serial number recovery. Technical Marking weapons to a depth of 0.10mm instead of 0.08mm will ensure the markings are more difficult throughout the weapons lifecycle. There is no greater cost associated with increasing depth from 0.10mm to 0.08mm. This depth ensures that any attempt to remove the mark would cause damage to the normal functioning of the weapon, due to the amount of material that needs to be removed. This is ensured by the strategic placement of marks on essential components of the weapon such as the receiver. Using the MOSAIC recommendation of 0.10mm will allow for easier recovery of serial numbers or other markings that are illegally removed from weapons through chemical etching or other recovery processes. Serial number obliteration by non-state actors usually removes the markings superficially visible to the human eye but will leave recoverable traces in the material. Chemical etching using compounds such as Frys reagent is the most common recovery process for obliterated serial numbers however technologies such as the use of eddy current kits are growing in use, notably by organisations such as Conflict Armament Research. The imprint made on the weapon through the marking process will be easier to recover and read if marked to a deeper level due to the increased displacement of weapon material and the impact on the density of the surrounding material. Figure 1 shows the impact of imprinting material using dot peen marking machines which compress and create density in the material while engraving serial numbers. The red line shows the material that is often removed during mark obliteration and the remaining compressed structure underneath the red line which is what is used in the recovery process. Figure 1 When using modern weapons marking equipment such as dot peen machines there is no extra cost burden associated with achieving a 0.10 mm mark compared to a 0.08mm mark, but a great increase in recoverability. Most modern marking machines cannot specify the depth that will be achieved due to varying composition of weapon materials, fixturing methods, condition of the stylus tip and other factors that impact the depth of a mark. Accordingly there is little technical justification for marking to a shallower depth when marking deeper is possible and allows easier serial number recovery. Marking to the depth of 0.10mm rather than the proposed 0.08mm will ensure more readable, durable and recoverable weapons markings and ensure alignment between the EU and the UN MOSAIC guidelines which are used in developing countries as best practice guidelines for weapons marking projects.
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Visa Suspension Mechanism
25 Aug 2023
As the volume of travellers increase with no additional/decreasing border agents, border checks are at risk of reduced capacity to identify unwanted entrants, overstayers, authors and victims of cross-border criminal activities (e.g. human trafficking, migrant smuggling, serious crimes, etc.) Member States should therefore be able to suspend the visa-free regime with a non-EU country if there are specific irregular migration or security risks linked to the nationals of that country. The visa suspension mechanism is an integral part of the EU's common policy on short-stay visas, which has been fully harmonised at EU level. The mechanism can be strengthened only through action at EU level, namely by amending the Regulation. As suggested in the Commissions call for evidence, amendments of the regulation should encompass : broadening the possible grounds for suspension, adapting the relevant thresholds and procedures, and strengthening the Commissions monitoring and reporting obligations. The criteria for triggering the mechanism need to be complete and clear, yet flexible enough to allow for their efficient and swift application where necessary.
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