10 January 2022

France assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 January 2022, the first in the Trio Presidency, which will continue with Czechia in July 2022 and will conclude with Sweden in the first half of 2023.
 

The priorities of France's presidency are reflected in its motto:

'Recovery, strength and a sense of belonging'

It represents:

• recovery, to enable Europe to support the ecological and digital transitions

• strength, to defend and promote our values and interests

• a sense of belonging, to build and develop a shared European vision through culture, our values and our common history

At a moment when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose difficult and significant challenges to the EU, CEPOL welcomes, and is ready to support, the French presidency plans to help prepare the Europe of tomorrow.

Presidency programme

The programme for the French Presidency has three ambitions:

A more sovereign Europe: by strengthening the Schengen area, protecting European borders, controlling migration and improving the asylum policy, in line with Europe’s values and its international commitments; by building a stronger Europe which is more capable of action in the fields of security and defence; by taking action for the prosperity and stability of its neighbours, particularly through its engagement in the Western Balkans and its renewed relationship with Africa; and by bringing forth solutions to global challenges.

A new European model for growth: to make Europe a land of production, job creation, innovation and technological excellence; in which economic development is aligned with climate goals; that supports innovation and the growth of European digital players and sets its own rules for the digital world; and that offers high-quality, high‑skilled and better-paying jobs.

A humane Europe: that listens to the concerns expressed by its citizens through the Conference on the Future of Europe; that defends the rule of law and upholds its values; that takes pride in its culture, trusts in science and knowledge, and is committed to fighting discrimination and securing a future for the next generation.

Justice and home affairs

The French Presidency will take action to proceed with the reform of the Schengen area, continue work on asylum and migration and will work to strengthen the security of European citizens by heightening police cooperation and to strengthen European coordination in civil protection.

Furthermore, the French Presidency will stress the importance of combatting all forms of hate and discrimination.

Lastly, the Presidency will take action in various areas in order to adapt judicial cooperation to the digital age, including with regard to electronic evidence.

New CEPOL Management Board chairmanship

On 1 January, Mr Philippe Durand, Deputy head of the International Security Cooperation Directorate of the French Ministry of the Interior, and Mr Jan Pechacek, Head of Division of International Education and Training of the Police of the Czech Republic, have taken their seats as Chair and Deputy Chair of CEPOL’s Management Board respectively.

Following their election during the November Management Board meeting, CEPOL Executive Director, Dr.h.c. Detlef Schröder, welcomed Mr Philippe Durand and Mr Jan Pechacek to the agency’s premises in Budapest in December.

For more detailed information see: https://www.cepol.europa.eu/media/news