[Update] Suspension of CEPOL residential/exchange activities until 31 May 2020

[Update: 20 March 2020]

The risks and implications of the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 in relation to the carrying-out of CEPOL operational activities are monitored and evaluated constantly by the Agency. That includes activities carried out in the context of externally funded projects.

Today, based on these analyses and following consultations, the Executive Director of CEPOL decided on the extension of the suspension of the following operational activities until 31 May 2020:

1. Residential (on-site) training activities, including training activities, carried out in the context of externally funded projects,
2. Exchanges,
3. Missions of CEPOL staff, except missions permitted upon approval of the Executive Director when compelling business needs require so,
4. CEPOL organised meetings,
5. Group visits to CEPOL premises in Budapest.

Following the earlier decisions of the Executive Director, presence of the staff at the Agency's headquarters remains limited and most of CEPOL's employees telework from their homes - in line with advice from the host Member State authorities and actions pursued by other EU institutions or bodies.

The above decision does not affect our CEPOL eLearning offer and any other online activities pursued by the Agency.

For any further information, you are kindly asked to refer to your CEPOL National Units.

We count on your full support, understanding and flexibility in these days, to allow the Agency to make the most of its capacities in this particular circumstances, without any unnecessary risk to our health and well-being.

[10 March 2020]

In the light of the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Europe and its effect on CEPOL operations, in order to protect the good health and well-being both of CEPOL staff and participants of CEPOL residential activities, CEPOL exchanges guests of the Agency, following consultations with the CEPOL Management Board and CEPOL National Units earlier today, and with their full support, the CEPOL Executive Director has decided what follows:

1. to suspend all CEPOL meetings, residential training activities and related preparatory meetings until 13 April 2020, with a possibility of further extension.
2. to apply similar suspension to CEPOL Exchange Programme and any other exchanges, seminars, study visits or meetings with stakeholders.
3. to reimburse all costs incurred already regarding the meetings, exchanges cancelled by the above decision.
4. to suspend all planned group visits to the CEPOL HQ.
5. to provide further information on possibilities of compensation for the suspension of residential activities and exchanges with supplementary online activities in the following weeks.

The above decision does not affect our CEPOL eLearning offer and any other online activities pursued by the Agency.

For any further information, you are kindly asked to refer to your CEPOL National Units.

We count on your full support, understanding and flexibility in these days, to allow the Agency to make the most of its capacities in this particular circumstances, without any unnecessary risk to our health and well-being.