Jerusalem, 30/10/2013 - The European EUPOL COPPS mission, which has been in Palestine since 2006, aims to use its revised mandate (valid until 30 June 2014) to move to a new level. After devoting several years to meeting the basic needs of Palestine for the establishment of policing arrangements and in the criminal justice sector, it now aims to support the efforts of Palestinians in the West Bank with regard to strategic planning.
Succeeding a British initiative in 2006, the EUPOL COPPS mission has a three-pronged objective to: - support reform and the development of the civilian police force; - strengthen and support the criminal justice system; - and improve interaction between the police and public prosecutor. The mission has an annual budget of €9.5 million and a staff of 71 personnel - European citizens or third country citizens (Canada, Norway, Turkey), as well as around 40 Palestinians. Nineteen EU member states contribute to the mission.
EUPOL COPPS carries out many different activities. In the civil police sector, it has helped to train over 200 Palestinian instructors of the police academy based in Jericho. It has assisted the Palestinian police in setting up a unit to manage road accidents, responsible for coordinating intervention in the event of an emergency involving several districts among the eleven that make up Area A of the West Bank - the only area totally under the control of the Palestinian Authority (see related article). The result of this is that the police now demonstrates a high level of professionalism and enjoys considerable support among the population. The police is also aware that, as a general rule, “the alternative is worse”, it is said on the European side.
In the field of criminal justice, EUPOL COPPS helps its Palestinian interlocutors to uphold the principles of rule of law (including respect for human rights, compliance with procedures, responsibility, counter-corruption) throughout the judicial process, from matters handled by the prosecutors to the treatment of persons detained, and structuring the Palestinian law Bar. On the other hand, it never intervenes in any specific cases.
Welcoming the constructive cooperation with Europeans, the Palestinian minister of the interior, Saïd Abu Ali, said - when speaking on Tuesday 29 October during a meeting with some European journalists - that he hoped the European mission would continue in the medium term to provide expertise to the Palestinian Authority. He identified areas where improvements need to be made on the Palestinian side, such as “specialised training, technology and the legal environment”.
The European side places emphasis on the importance of a clearer legal framework. “We need an improved legal framework to allow the Palestinian police to be more effective”, said Hansjörg Haber, the commander of EU civilian operations. As the Palestinian Authority does not have a working parliament, no laws can be adopted. This means, for example, that the Palestinian criminal code dates back to the 1960s and is therefore obsolete for many new kinds of criminal activity. The adoption of presidential decrees, however, makes it possible to overcome this situation.
According to Kenneth Deane, Head of EUPOL COPPS, “we are now at a point that is full of challenges”. He underlined the importance of “increased synchronisation” between the various elements of a chain of intervention involving not only the police but also the criminal justice system. The EU now hopes to give cooperation a more strategic dimension. The Palestinian police force has acquired a certain maturity and the objective is to use the experience gained and data collected to identify and anticipate what is needed. “We want the Palestinians to raise the level of play, for their own good. Let us see if they are ready to do so”, one European diplomat said. In order to build a credible state, the Palestinian Authority should be able to fulfil certain fundamental norms that characterise rule of law. “Otherwise”, the same diplomat said, “international organisations will not accept it”.
Having the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority confirmed within major international organisations remains a fundamental goal of the Palestinians. Abu Ali said they were conducting “legal action” with this in mind. In his view, such action could also serve to prepare them to withstand any failure in relaunching Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Furthermore, Abu Ali said, given that the Palestinians abide by international standards, why should the EU not support their request to join Interpol?
In line with the mandate revised in June 2013, two special advisers will be recruited and seconded to the Palestinian Ministry of the Interior by the end of the year. One of them, directly attached to the minister's cabinet, will be responsible for following through strategic planning. The other will consider how timely it is to reform the Ministry's organisational structure. A similar secondment is envisaged within the Ministry of Justice. Deane will discuss all these matters in Brussels on Tuesday 19 November with member state representatives within the Political and Security Committee. (MB/transl.jl)