The leadership of the European Council of Police Unions (CESP), represented by President Massimo Denarier, General Secretary Cosmin Andreica, and Advisor Irena Ivanovska, participated in the European Parliament Police Intergroup meeting held in Brussels on 4 March.

The meeting was chaired by Assita Kanko, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Police Intergroup, and was organised under the theme “Before Borders and Battlefields: How the Police Are Central to Europe’s Security.”The event brought together policymakers, security experts and representatives of law enforcement organisations to discuss the evolving role of police forces in safeguarding European societies against increasingly complex and interconnected security threats.

During the discussions, participants highlighted the central role of police and law enforcement authorities in protecting citizens and maintaining democratic stability across Europe. Police officers were recognised as the first line of defence against a wide range of threats, including organised crime, terrorism, hybrid threats and large-scale public security risks.

A key topic of the meeting was the proposal (upon CESP’s request) for recognition of policing as a high-risk profession. MEP Assita Kanko and the Police Intergroup expressed their strong support for advancing this recognition at the European level, underlining the daily risks police officers face in carrying out their duties. Participants emphasised that officers are regularly exposed to violent confrontations, significant psychological stress and other operational hazards, which requires enhanced protective measures, specialised training, modern equipment, comprehensive mental health support and fair compensation structures comparable to those of other high-risk public safety professions.

The discussions also addressed the need to strengthen support for police forces across Europe, improve the integration of internal and external security strategies, and ensure that law enforcement authorities are fully included in international cooperation aimed at countering emerging and hybrid security threats.

CESP’s participation in the meeting reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to contributing to European discussions on policing, security policy and the professional protection of police officers, while promoting the recognition of the risks associated with the profession and the importance of supporting those who stand at the forefront of Europe’s security.

Key Speakers

• Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
• Javier Zarzalejos, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the LIBE Committee
• Assita Kanko, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Police Intergroup
• Lena Dupont, Member of the European Parliament
• Peter Winn, Acting Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer, U.S. Department of Justice
• Donatas Škarnulis, Deputy Commander of the State Border Guard Service, Lithuania
• Colonel Roger Housen, Defence expert, author and speaker