The European Police college (CEPOL) concluded on Wednesday a three-day conference where representatives of the EU and candidate countries agreed that CEPOL expand its activities to Western Balkan countries.
"Western Balkans is one of the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency and this is why we invited representatives of police training systems of these countries to the conference to see where we are and how we can cooperate in the future," CEPOL Governing Board Chair Nevenka Tomovic told the press.
Tomovic added that the meeting was also called in order to exchange best practices and seek ways to improve the training of police officers in fighting organised crime. Another reason for the conference was the proposal that the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA) be drafted by Southeast European countries as well.
Emile Perez, the head of CEPOL's working group for external relations, added that cooperation and assistance must come from democratic values shared by European countries.
Interior Ministry State Secretary Zvonko Zinrajh, who addressed the conference on Tuesday, said that the ministry's representatives visited Serbia, Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro and announced the start of a visa liberalisation dialogue.
CEPOL brings together senior police officers across Europe with the aim to encourage cross-border cooperation in the fight against crime, maintenance of public security and law and order.
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