The European Council of Police Trade Unions (CESP) held a high-level meeting at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 16–17 February 2026.
The CESP delegation, consisting of President Massimo Denarier, General Secretary Cosmin Andreica, and CESP Advisor Irena Ivanovska, met with Tanja Rakušić-Hadžić, Head of Division for Cooperation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty, Marjana Papa, Project Manager responsible for the Police Network, Niamh Casey, Head of the Reporting Division of the Social Rights Department, and Paulo Gomes from the Digital Governance and Sport Department.
Discussions focused on democratic policing standards, the social rights of police officers within the framework of the European Social Charter, the use of less-lethal devices such as tasers, mental health and psychosocial risks in policing, recognition of policing as a high-risk profession, and the impact of digital transformation and AI on law enforcement.
As an INGO with participatory status and a member of the Police Network of the Council of Europe, CESP reaffirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue and strengthened cooperation within the Council of Europe framework, contributing practitioner-based expertise to promote human rights, rule of law and professional policing across Europe.