CEPOL Presidency of Justice and Home Affairs network kicks off this month

CEPOL is presiding this year the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies' Network (JHAAN), which also marks the beginning of the first network Trio Presidency, formed by the subsequent Presidencies by CEPOL (2022), EUAA (2023) and eu-LISA (2024).

The JHAAN (*) has an important role to play in Europe. It connects the EU Agencies protecting the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Together, the JHA agencies contribute to the implementation of EU's objectives in the fields of migration, asylum and external border management, the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, gender equality and respect for fundamental rights. They also facilitate the functioning of relevant EU IT systems, contribute to EU activities on drugs and drugs addiction and facilitate law enforcement training.

The CEPOL Presidency will be guided by three principles, flexibility, inclusiveness and continuity: 2022 is expected to be a year full of complex challenges that will require a high amount of flexibility in working methods, especially due to the continuation of the pandemic situation. CEPOL is aiming to collaborate closely with the Trio partners and the other members of the network, acknowledging the added value of building upon the vast knowledge and expertise that lies within the network members and its external partners. Also, CEPOL will focus on ensuring the continuity of the well-established working methods and products of the network.

CEPOL Executive Director, Dr.h.c. Detlef Schröder, stated:

'We are proud to assume the role of presiding the JHAAN throughout 2022; an important milestone for our network, as the first Trio Presidency kicks-off this year. We are looking forward to work closely with the Trio and the other network members, identifying synergies that will make our work more efficient, and exploring new elements to strengthen our cooperation, for the benefit of the EU and its citizens'.

Priorities of the CEPOL presidency of the JHA Agencies Network in 2022

During the CEPOL presidency, the JHAAN will focus on three main thematic priorities:

· Digital transformation, and in particular on-line training, learning and capacity building aspects.

· European Green Deal and the JHA agencies' contribution to achieving its objectives, including EU training initiatives in the field of environmental crime.

· JHA agencies' cooperation with third countries, building also upon CEPOL's knowledge and expertise within the scope of its externally funded projects.

As training is at the core of the agency's mandate, it consists an overall priority of the CEPOL Presidency. Efforts will be dedicated to meaningful inter-agency discussions on the impact of the pandemic on current learning methods and environments, the digitalisation of training, and training needs analyses and digital skills gaps, particularly in relation to law enforcement.

(*) The JHAAN includes nine agencies: the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the EU's Law Enforcement Agency (Europol), the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).

Read more about this year's Preseidency here.

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