A state-of-the-art cyber-crime lab, multifunctional EMPACT labs, and professional webinar recording studios are among the highlights of the new CEPOL headquarters in Budapest. The home of the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training was inaugurated today, in the presence of high-level representatives from EU Member States, EU institutions, partner countries and organisations, and local authorities.
Hungarian Minister of Interior, dr. Sándor Pintér; Director General (acting) of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs, Beate Gminder; together with the Executive Director of CEPOL, Montserrat Marín Lόpez, addressed the guests, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Agency.
“With great pride and enthusiasm, we inaugurate our new headquarters, a milestone in CEPOL’s journey that reflects our growth, evolution, and unwavering commitment to strengthening law enforcement cooperation across Europe,” said CEPOL Executive Director. Montserrat Marín López added, “This new building represents more than just concrete—it embodies our dedication to equipping law enforcement with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively combat different forms of crime. We are deeply grateful to Hungary for offering us this state-of-the-art training hub, fully equipped to deliver high-quality in-person, hybrid, and online training.”
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Director General (acting) of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs, Beate Gminder, noted, "Through cutting-edge training, cooperation, and knowledge exchange, CEPOL empowers European law enforcement to combat organised crime, terrorism, and emerging threats. With these new headquarters, we are further strengthening our shared mission to make Europe safer, ensuring that those who protect us are equipped for the challenges of today and tomorrow. A cornerstone of this effort is the development of a common European law enforcement culture that enables effective cross-border cooperation in a trusted and efficient way. CEPOL has a key role to play in shaping this culture through joint training and continuous collaboration".
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Hungarian Minister of Interior, dr. Sándor Pintér, on behalf of the Hungarian authorities, wished CEPOL every success in its new premises. "Law enforcement training remains a top priority: well-trained law enforcement officials can do their job faster and to a higher standard. Every case solved through effective international cooperation is a tribute to the work of law enforcement training personnel", he stated, and added, "For Hungary, this building represents a solid investment, an investment in the future of European law enforcement training, an investment in the development of security. We need a strong, independent EU law enforcement training agency with modern training facilities".
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The inauguration ceremony was also attended by representatives of embassies of EU Member States and partner countries in Budapest, members of the CEPOL Management Board, CEPOL National Units, and the agency’s staff. CEPOL welcomed their presence at this celebratory occasion for the Agency.
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About CEPOL
In 2001 CEPOL began its journey
as a network of national police academies, training institutes and universities. In 2005 the agency’s headquarters were set up in Bramshill, UK, while in 2006 CEPOL became an EU Agency.
In 2014, CEPOL relocated from the UK, to Budapest, Hungary. CEPOL’s building at Ó utca in Budapest was designed to accommodate around 50 staff members, while the agency’s core mission was to provide high-quality training to police officers from EU Member States.
In 2016, a significant shift in the agency’s mandate expanded its reach to all law enforcement officials. This broadened scope required additional resources to meet the rising demand for high-quality, specialised training.
While in 2014 CEPOL was not delivering capacity-building projects, today, it is implementing five major projects, involving beneficiaries from MENA regions, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, with a dedicated team of around 50 staff members—almost the same number of personnel that relocated from the UK to Budapest more than a decade ago.
As a direct consequence of the agency’s growth, its headquarters in Ó utca could no longer accommodate the increasing number of activities and resources. It became clear that the agency required a much larger building, designed to accommodate its needs and growing operations.
