Salzburg Forum in Bucharest: Joint declaration on security priorities

Interior Ministers of the Salzburg Forum Member States adopted a joint Declaration on security priorities at the end of a Ministerial Conference held in Bucharest on 14-15 June.

"Ministers recognize the opportunity to develop the concept of 'community policing', proposed by Romania, with the main purpose to adapt the response of law enforcement agencies to the particularities of the communities in the Member States”, according to the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI).

Concept of "community policing" involves "building bridges" between communities and law enforcement authorities.

"Latest EUROSTAT statistics show that at the beginning of 2016, over 16 million citizens of EU Member States lived in the territory of a Member State other than their residence. It is therefore appropriate for police officers of the same nationality with community members to carry out missions for preventive purposes on the territory of other Member States, under the coordination and in co-operation with national police".

Also at the proposal of the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, ministers concluded that it is appropriate to update the concept of intelligence analysis within the law enforcement authorities of the Member States with new unified standards, adapted to the current international and European context.

Salzburg Forum participants also discussed the European Commission's announced intentions to increase the operational capacity of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) as well as alternative solutions for improving the protection of EU’s external borders.

On the last day of the Ministerial Conference, Romanian Home Affairs Minister Carmen Dan had two bilateral meetings: one with Europol Director, Ms Catherine DE BOLLE and the other with Austrian Interior Minister, Herbert Kickl.

Director of Europol has appreciated that Romania is an important contributor to relevant information and data for the European Police Office.

Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs reiterated the readiness of Romanian law enforcement authorities to continue and enhance cooperation with Europol.

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Romania hosted the Salzburg Forum Ministerial Conference, in its quality as President-in-Office of this Forum, at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest, on 14-15 June.

The works of the Conference were attended by the interior ministers of six European countries, representatives of the Interior Ministries and diplomatic missions from nine other countries, the Heads of the law enforcement agencies in the European Union and representatives of the European Commission.

Salzburg Forum was founded in 2000 at the initiative of Austria and functions as a partnership for security and cooperation in Central Europe, bringing together the Interior Ministries of its nine Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia. Since 2007, Salzburg Forum is also attended by the Group of Friends (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) and the Republic of Moldova.

Source:RRA,MAI.Translated by Miruna Matei