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CESP – A reality
Whereas Europe is constructing every day, the European Police Officers are confronted with a situation which they do not control or little and which however has unquestionable consequences on their daily work.
The European Council of Police Trade Unions intends to fully take part in the realisation of this new judicial and police European space.
Its objective is to group professionals of the security whose ground experience put them into a position of proposing adequate and sometimes alternative solutions to institutional responses.
It makes a point of raising this daring but essential challenge, the creation of an unified, interdependent and effective Europe of the Policeofficers.
To reach that point and with the aim of improving the mission of public service given to the police officers, the CESP takes up the challenge to re-valorise the police function thanks to the responsible trade-union organisations which make it up.
It is by this action that the CESP has a direct action in the life of the police officer. For this purpose it carries out comparative studies on the European police forces organisation.
The synthesis of the trade-union experiments of its members tends to improve the life and working conditions of each police officer to enable him as well as possible to ensure the security of its fellow citizens. It takes an active part in the works of the Council of Europe (www.coe.fr) by its membership to the NGO Joint Commission.
It collaborates in the various groupings of the NGO and more particularly in the fields of the « Social rights, European Social Charter », of the « Civil Society in New Europe » and of the « Human Rights ».
For this reason it contributes to the programme of « Police and Human rights » (www.humanrights.coe.int/police) of the Direction of the Human Rights.
Since 2003, it is registered on the list of the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) of the International Labour Office (www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/index.htm) at Geneva and is invested near the Commission (www.europa.eu.int/com) and the European Parliament (www.europarl.eu.int/).
This work allowed and will still make it possible to obtain progress as regards social and judicial protections for the police officer in countries where they do not exist or little and to get improvements where they are already a reality.
In addition, the CESP studies concerning the comparisons of treatments, premiums, welfare benefits will have a beneficial influence on the career and the economic situation of many police officers in the context of the European construction.
The opening of the borders and its effects on the work of the Police force were not really measured by those who built « The Europe of Trade ».
The CESP claims for and works to the realisation of a police judicial organisation close to the citizen and able to fight effectively against all the forms of delinquency and in particular against the organised crime which undermines the Democracy.
This ambitious programme supposes a perfect knowledge of the various European police forces and of their specificity. Does it exist a better space for dialogue, exchanges and work that the one that the European Council of Police Trade Unions has been able to built since 1988.
The European Council of Police Unions C.E.S.P.
An International Non-Governmental Organisation with the participatory status near the Council of Europe. Professionals have clearly expressed their opinion on :
“The C.E.S.P. declares that the Police cannot be used as an instrument of pressure in the service of government policy. ” (Lisbon – April 1990)
“The policeman is not an executor; he has neither the power nor the will. ” (Lisbon-April 1990)
“The police must have the means to ensure the safety of citizens. Its area of action is the public domain. ” (Meyzieu – October 1990)
“The C.E.S.P. reaffirms the obligation for the police force to remain in the service of the Law and to be, in all circumstances, impartial regardless of the ethnic or social origins of the perpetrators of crimes or offenses “. (Meyzieu – October 1990)
“The C.E.S.P. considers that an archaic conception of the police function, anchored in the past and coming from authoritarian regimes, prevents the attribution to the police of the rights and freedoms proper to all citizens of democratic states. Only those who consider the Police as the manifestation of “power” towards the citizen and not as “the power of the citizen” can judge police unionism as a negative or disruptive element “. (Madrid – April 1991)
The C.E.S.P. does not recognize the adoption of a military model in the organization and functions of any police force in a democratic state because it does not guarantee the rights, nor the freedoms, individual and collective of the citizens “. (Athens – November 1991)
“Change is taking place too slowly and the authorities of the countries of central and eastern Europe are still too cautious to recognize the role of social regulator of the police and their representatives. The C.E.S.P. strongly recalls that only the application to the letter of Council of Europe resolution 690/79 on the declaration on the police can enable the democratic functioning of the police. The ethical principles and statutory protection of the police officer set out therein are a guarantee for society as a whole.
“The C.E.S.P. is ready to defend the application of the principles everywhere, always and with the utmost firmness. “
(Athens – November 1991)
“The C.E.S.P. denounces the use of terrorist activity and the support it receives on the pretext of political ideologies, economic interests or enlightened ultra-nationalism … Those who negotiate with murderers will end up murdering. Those who do not take all legal and democratic measures in the fight against terrorism, whatever the pretext, will become accomplices of these murderers. “
(Athens – November 1991)
“The C.E.S.P. calls for the adoption of legislation common to all European countries in the field of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure.
In the meantime, he proposes:
- “The establishment, with respect for human rights, of an information system common to all European police forces”
- “The creation of mixed brigades allowing great efficiency in the fight against international crime, headed by a European Operational Direction”.
- “The establishment of joint training centers, organizing internships for European police officers, focusing in particular on the ethical aspects of the profession”.
(Budapest – May 1992)
“The C.E.S.P. works to make police unionism truly independent from political parties and governments. The conquests of the right to organize do not belong to those who are temporarily in charge of a professional organization, but to all the police. “
“The C.E.S.P. does not accept any obstacle to the right to organize in the Police which is one of the fundamental institutions which must support Democracy. A law-abiding, democratic police officer serves all citizens, not a government party. “
(Budapest – May 1992)
“Faced with the scourge of drugs that is spreading in Europe and which particularly strikes young people, the C.E.S.P. mobilizes all European police officers and decides to immediately set up a working group bringing together specialists responsible for this problem and working in the field. The C.E.S.P. denounces the reluctance shown by certain European countries to track down profiteers who recycle and use the money from the drug trade “.
(Nicosia – September 1993)
“The European Council of Police Trade Unions is particularly concerned about the current situation in Europe. The questioning of the European idea, ethnic conflicts or civil wars which violate human rights considerably weaken the democratic principles defended by the C.E.S.P. “
“Faced with these dramatic situations, the police and the police too often appear as the instruments of political power. The C.E.S.P. denounces this use and reaffirms with force and conviction that the police must be the GUARDIANS OF PUBLIC PEACE. “
(Nicosia – September 1993)
The C.E.S.P. calls for unrestricted freedom of association for all European police officers in accordance with Council of Europe Resolution 690 and an end to the pressure exerted on certain trade union police officers in the exercise of their mandates.
Any obstacle to trade unionism is a blatant demonstration of a desire to break free from democracy.
(Trojanovice – June 1995)
The C.E.S.P. demands standardized initial and continuous training for all European police officers integrating the learning of foreign languages. This course must be open to civil society in order to prepare professionals who meet the demanding expectations of citizens. It must relate to compliance with laws and regulations, impartiality and respect for human rights.
Learning techniques and studying police missions must be adapted to the needs of local police.
(Warsaw – April 1997)
The C.E.S.P. reiterates its call from Budapest (May 1992) and calls on European governments to finally harmonize European judicial and police legislation in order to fight effectively against all forms of crime.
He calls for the abolition of tax havens serving as a financial sanctuary for organized crime and the holding, under the aegis of the Council of Europe, of the “First European Assizes of Internal Security”.
(Ohrid – FYROM – March 1998)
The C.E.S.P. defends the principle that efficiency in the fight against all forms of crime and against corruption requires a reassessment of the levels of recruitment and training of European police. On the other hand, the police must be fairly compensated for offering their families a standard of living in relation to the constraints and specific duties of their profession.
(Ohrid – March 1998)
The C.E.S.P. calls on the governments of its 16 member countries to implement the procedures for signing, ratifying and applying the revised Social Charter and its additional protocol.
As such, he claims that all European police officers should not be victims of discrimination in terms of social and human rights.
(Lille – November 1998)
The C.E.S.P. reiterates its concern at the growing threat of organized crime which weakens democracy.
He deplores the lack of harmonization of legislative and legal rules.
He calls for the creation of European intelligence and investigation bodies to respond to the challenge of organized crime and corruption. He calls for the establishment of judicial and police structures experienced in this form of crime and the creation of a court with European jurisdiction like the European Court of Human Rights.
(Athens – March 1999)
Civic control of the police must be carried out externally by citizens, the judiciary, elected officials, the media, associations, NGOs, but also internally by control and investigation bodies.
Staff representatives from trade union organizations are involved in the internal civic control of the police by participating in disciplinary proceedings.
(Sofia – November 1999).