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Dutch proposal for a European Police Institute. (1)

01 January 1991

Dutch proposal for a European Police Institute.
artdoc May=1991
Statewatch no.1 March/April 1991


A Dutch committee headed by Dr Piet van Reenen, director of the Dutch Police
Academy, has presented a feasibility study, "Europees Politie Instituut: een
perfect idee" (European Police Institute: a perfect idea) to Minister of Home
Affairs Mrs. Ien Dales.
The study advises concentrating all activities of an EPI in one location as
far as possible, and suggests the TREVI group be approached to found the
institute. The minister, however, prefers to have some officials of her ministry
and the ministry of justice look at it first. The IPE would be a centre for
education and training, documentation and research on a European level.
Officials of the different European countries stated in interviews that the
institute should focus on differences in culture, laws and competence and the
various aspects of international cooperation.
The institute should be open to police personnel with a minimum of two years
of experience in an officer's rank, which would amount to some 4000 persons.
Another target group would be commanding or policymaking police officers with
10-15 years of experience. Language of communication at the institute would be
English. As a possible location for the IPE the Dutch town Maastricht is
suggested, situated at the Dutch-Belgian-German border. Last year, in a much-
cited article on European police cooperation ("Policing Europe after 1992.
Cooperation and Competition" European Affairs, 1989, No.2, pp. 45-53) Dr Van
Reenen suggested that small European countries should take initiatives on
international cooperation in these sensitive matters to avoid the impression
that some influential country would use "1992" as a means of extending its
influence in Europe. Public opinion would be more willing to accept such
initiatives from Holland or Denmark than from Germany or France. Mr. Van Reenen
can be reached at: Nederlandse Politie-Academie, De Kleiberg 15, 7312 SN
Apeldoorn tel. 31 55 550844.