The agency

Who are we?

Since 1 July 2016 (date of our new legal mandate¹) CEPOL’s official name is “European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training”.

We are an EU training agency working with and trusted by a wide range of law enforcement organisations since 2001.

CEPOL is an agency of the European Union dedicated to developing, implementing and coordinating training for law enforcement officials.

Where is CEPOL located?

CEPOL’s headquarters are located in Budapest, Hungary.

Why does CEPOL exist?

CEPOL is an integral part of the EU security architecture.

The area of freedom, security and justice has been going through a significant transformation. Cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes are increasing rapidly, and terrorism persists as a threat to internal security. The digital transformation of the justice and home affairs domain will continue in the coming years with the application of new large-scale IT systems and implementation of the interoperability framework. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact European law enforcement capacity, and the impact of the war in Ukraine has made some threats more visible.

With transnational serious crime on the rise, and with the setting up of a number of new EU instruments and tools to enhance cross-border police cooperation countering serious crimes, it is more important than ever that national law enforcement officials have training at their disposal to acquire appropriate skills on cooperating with their peers in other Member States and using related EU instruments and tools in an effective manner.

What does CEPOL do?

CEPOL contributes to a safer Europe by facilitating cooperation and knowledge sharing among law enforcement officials of EU Member States² and, to some extent, from third countries, on issues stemming from EU priorities in the field of security, in particular, those related to serious and organised crime that stem from the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).

How does CEPOL work? How is the training portfolio created?

CEPOL brings together a network of training institutes for law enforcement officials in EU Member States and supports them in providing frontline training on security priorities, law enforcement cooperation and information exchange. CEPOL also works with EU bodies, international organisations, and third countries to ensure that the most serious security threats are tackled with a collective response.

The agency’s annual work programme is built with input from this network and other stakeholders, resulting in topical and focused activities designed to meet the needs of Member States in the priority areas of EU internal security strategy. Moreover, CEPOL assesses training needs to address EU security priorities.

CEPOL constantly strives to offer innovative and advanced training activities by integrating relevant developments in knowledge and research & technology, and by creating synergies through strengthened cooperation.

CEPOL’s current portfolio encompasses onsite training activities, online learning, exchange programmes, and scientific knowledge and research activities.

+20 years keeping Europe safe

CEPOL began its journey in 2001 as a network of national police academies, training institutes and universities. Today we are an EU Agency with broader responsibilities and a radius of action that extends to more than 55 countries.

CEPOL’s 2023-2027 strategy

CEPOL’s strategy lays out ambitious plans to further enhance the cooperation and knowledge sharing among law enforcement officials of EU Member States. By 2027, we aim to:

• be the EU hub for law enforcement training
• foster a common law enforcement culture through training
• promote accreditation of law enforcement vocational training
• excel at governance as a modern EU agency.

¹Regulation (EU) 2015/2219 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015

²Denmark is not considered Member State in relation to CEPOL in accordance with Protocol 22 on the position of Denmark in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the TEU and to the TFEU.