11th Governing Board Meeting Takes Place in Slovenia

The first CEPOL Governing Board meeting under the Slovenian Presidency, chaired by Nevenka Tomovic, was held on 19-20 February 2008 in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia.

Among the main topics discussed were the Preliminary Work Programme 2009 and the Estimate 2009 (budget request). The Preliminary Work Programme 2009 will be forwarded to the European Commission for consultation. The Estimate 2009 (budget request) - adopted by the Governing Board at €8.8m – will be sent to the European Commission for inclusion in the Preliminary Draft Budget 2009 of the European Union.

The Governing Board welcomed the draft Staff Policy Plan 2009-2011, which includes three new functions in 2009: Internal Control Standards Coordinator (AD5); Quality Manager (AD5); and Programme Support Officer (AD5). After the European Commission has given their opinion on the document, it will be tabled to the Governing Board for adoption.

A report on the CEPOL Network Working Conference held in Luxembourg in October 2007 was tabled which states a strategic plan for the next five years should be developed. Related to this, the Governing Board adopted the decision ‘Laying down CEPOL’s Mission and Vision’.

CEPOL’s mission is: ‘Contributing to European Police Cooperation through Learning’.

CEPOL’s vision is: ‘CEPOL is acknowledged by allied agencies and authorities in the policing and academic world to be the primary source of learning and development in the field of education and training for better cooperation and policing in Europe.’

The Chair invited members of the Governing Board to complete a questionnaire in order to prioritise CEPOL’s strategy. “Developing clearer definitions of the roles, functions and remits of all network elements” was highlighted as CEPOL’s highest priority.

The Director presented the preliminary Annual Accounts 2007 and the Governing Board adopted a decision to carry over budget appropriations from 2007 to 2008. The Governing Board adopted the Implementing Rules to the Financial Regulation and invited the Director to provide a proposal for a chapter on Internal Auditing to the next Budget and Administration Committee meeting.

A status report was given on the implementation of the Exchange Programme and the Euromed Police II project. The current CEPOL/Agis Exchange Programme finishes at the end of 2008.

e-Net, the new electronic platform currently in development, was discussed and the Governing Board was informed that the website, discussion forum and chat will be the first parts to be rolled out into production during March 2008. The e-Library and e-Learning parts will follow later this year.

Other key items discussed at the Governing Board included:

• A report of the 2007 Activities was presented by CEPOL Secretariat;
• The Meetings Calendar for the second half of 2008 was adopted (please refer to the ‘Calendar of Events’ on the website for more information);
• A report by ACTA (Working Group “Analysis of CEPOL’s Training Activities”) highlighting recommendations and proposals for further consideration;
• Cooperation Agreements - in particular cooperation with Russia;
• A proposal to establish a Project Group “Survey on European Police Education (SEPE)” was adopted;
• The new members of the Research and Science Working Group were approved as Lesley Duff (United Kingdom) and Raimundas Kalesnykas (Lithuania);
• The new Members for Electronic Network Working Group were approved as John Mc Hale (Ireland) and Alexandros Anastasiadis (Greece).

The 12th CEPOL Governing Board meeting will be held in Bled, Slovenia on Tuesday 20 May and Wednesday 21 May 2008.