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| Council Working Party on Police Cooperation (COSI) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Council Working Party on Police Cooperation (COSI) |
| Formation | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
| Parent organisation | Council of the European Union |
| Type | Working party |
Council Working Party on Police Cooperation (COSI) The Council Working Party on Police Cooperation (COSI) is a permanent intergovernmental body within the framework of the Council of the European Union that coordinates police and internal security cooperation among Member States of the European Union and with third countries. COSI supports decision-making in the fields covered by the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and instruments such as the Schengen Agreement, the European Arrest Warrant, and the Prüm Convention. It interacts with EU agencies including Europol, European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).
COSI operates as a technical and strategic forum linking national ministries of the interior, ministries of justice, and law enforcement authorities from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden with observers and partners such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and United Kingdom participation in specific arrangements. The body interfaces with judicial networks like the European Judicial Network and with international organizations including Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
COSI traces its antecedents to post‑Schengen coordination efforts and the strengthening of EU internal security after high‑profile incidents such as the Madrid train bombings and London bombings. Its institutional profile rose following the Treaty of Lisbon reforms and the 2015 European migrant crisis, prompting closer linkages with Europol and proposals advanced at the European Council and within the Council of the European Union. Key milestones include adaptation to the Prüm Decisions framework, implementation discussions around the European Investigation Order, and responses to cross‑border organized crime cases exemplified by operations linked to the Albanian Mafia and trafficking networks tied to the Western Balkans.
COSI's mandate encompasses strategic coordination, operational support, and policy development for cross‑border policing matters referenced in instruments such as the Schengen Borders Code and the Council Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant. It prepares Council conclusions, drafts decisions for Justice and Home Affairs configurations, and monitors implementation of measures stemming from the Stockholm Programme and the Justice and Home Affairs Council. COSI facilitates cooperation on issues including counter‑terrorism after incidents like the Charlie Hebdo shooting, counter‑drug operations linked to routes through Istanbul, and cybercrime responses informed by work at the European Cybercrime Centre within Europol.
COSI is chaired by representatives of the Council of the European Union rotating under the Council presidency, with delegates from national central authorities such as national police forces and ministries represented by permanent representatives to the Council of the European Union. It convenes thematic subgroups dealing with areas connected to agencies like Europol, Eurojust, European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and networks such as the European Network of Prosecutors. External participants include liaison officers from Interpol, and representatives from candidate countries negotiating chapters of the Accession of Turkey to the European Union or enlargement talks with the Western Balkans.
COSI coordinates operational responses to transnational threats exemplified by joint actions against drug trafficking, people smuggling, and organized crime syndicates operating across the Balkan Route and Mediterranean. It supported EU‑level strategic responses to foreign terrorist fighters returning from conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and actions against networks linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda. COSI promotes interoperability measures for information exchange related to databases such as the Schengen Information System, the Visa Information System, and cooperation protocols with Europol's analysis projects and Eurojust case coordination. It has overseen pilot projects on cross‑border hot pursuit, joint investigation teams modeled on provisions in the Prüm Convention, and coordinated training initiatives with the European Police College (CEPOL).
COSI acts as a nexus between the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, and agencies including Europol, Eurojust, European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), and European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). It prepares files for the Justice and Home Affairs Council and liaises with the European Parliament's committees such as the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. COSI also exchanges operational information with the European External Action Service on security aspects of external relations and coordinates with the European Court of Justice jurisprudence affecting police cooperation.
COSI has faced scrutiny over democratic oversight and transparency issues raised by members of the European Parliament and civil liberties NGOs such as Liberty (UK charity) and European Digital Rights (EDRi), particularly concerning data protection under the General Data Protection Regulation and access to databases like the Schengen Information System. Controversies include debates over intelligence sharing with third countries such as Turkey and United States programs revealed in disclosures paralleling those by Edward Snowden, and disputes about the balance between operational secrecy and judicial review exemplified by rulings from the European Court of Human Rights and challenges under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Category:European Union law enforcement