Cooperation agreement between the Academy and CEPOL has been signed

 Vushtrri, March.24. 2017 - Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training CEPOL, today signed a cooperation agreement, the purpose of this agreement is to define the relations between the KAPS and CEPOL, specifying the nature, extent and the manner in which the Academy can participate in the work of the agency and the necessary arrangements to assist mutual cooperation.

Signing the agreement was done between the Executive Director of CEPOL z.Ferenc Banfi, and Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Skender Hyseni, which was also attended by Director General of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Mr. Ismail Smakiqi.

Director of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety, Mr. Ismail Smakiqi said that the signing of the work agreement with CEPOL's is very important for the Academy and law enforcers.

"In recent years the Academy has continued to communicate with CEPOL in order to create work agreement and are fortunate that this agreement we are signing today",  said Smakiqi.

Smakiqi said that the benefits of this agreement are; trainings, courses, seminars, exchange programs, joint curricula, scientific research, E-learning platforms and other platforms which he said are necessary for the Academy.

"Trainings provided by CEPOL such as; communication in the community, the main cooperation within the framework of terrorism and extremism, police cooperation, economic, financial and environmental crime, organizational system of police structures within the European Union, illegal migration, strategic leadership management are all important topics that are held by the CEPOL and that the Academy will benefit from, "said Smakiqi thanking the Executive Director of CEPOL z.Ferenc Banfi for their continuous support to the signing of this agreement.
"Academy is a member of many networks of various police colleges, however, the signing of work agreement with CEPOL for the Academy is of special importance", said director Smakiqi.

Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Skender Hyseni thanked Director Smakiqi for organizing this event, considering that the signing of the cooperation agreement with CEPOL is very important for the Academy and MIA in general.

"Satisfaction becomes even greater where today signed the cooperation agreement with the EU agency and it is the third agreement that the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the relevant agencies have signed with the European Union", said Minister Hyseni.

Minister Hyseni said Work Agreement with CEPOL is of particular importance in terms of further perfection of teaching for the Academy as well.

"I congratulate you all who have worked to achieve this agreement. I am grateful to the Executive Director of CEPOL, Mr. Ferenc Banfi for his devotion to such agreement to be reached. Kosovo has done a lot in the integration of police and its security institutions in the security architecture, both regional and European and he is optimistic about Kosovo's membership in INTERPOL", said Minister Hyseni.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of CEPOL Mr.Ferenc Banfi mentioned that CEPOL in the past year has conducted training for 80 thousand police officers from more than 45 different countries around the world, where as of today Kosovo is part of it as well.

"You are welcome in our family and I expressed sincere thanks for organizing this event and the warm hospitality that is impressive", said Bamfi.

Cooperation between the Academy and CEPOL's will be done by including the participation of the Kosovo law enforcement officials in training sessions of CEPOL and EU law enforcement officials operating in the field of justice and internal affairs in training sessions organized by the Academy, stated in the agreement.

The agreement includes the definition of possible support activities of the Academy in the organization of training courses by CEPOL; harmonize further training standards of law enforcement in terms of cross-border cooperation; to increase the exchange of best practices and provide KAPS access to the public sections of the electronic network of CEPOL, defined as accessible sections to all registered users of e-Net but with limitations for unregistered users, under conditions of reciprocity and  necessary measures  to achieve the objectives for which it was reached the common agreement by the current Work Agreement.

Further to the agreement also includes joint interest to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in fighting against crime, particularly cross-border crime in Europe by holding joint training for law enforcement officials to increase the awareness and increase knowledge of instruments and mechanisms for international and European cooperation, as well as a wide range of specific subjects, such as counter-terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime, illegal migration and border control or trafficking with human beings.

CEPOL is the European Union Agency for Training of Law Enforcement, which was established by Council Decision as a Union entity for the training of senior police officials of the Member States and facilitate cooperation between national police forces by organizing and coordinate training activities with a European dimension to policing.