Institute of the Study of Public Order

“English Course Level B1-B2”

18-29.03.2019

Research Working Paper

EUPOL COPPS
(the EU Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support)

Coordinator: Commissioner Dania-Lara Trofil

Student: Police inspector Andreea Paunescu

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 The European Union is a major player on the world stage with regional and global
security interests and responsibilities. Through its common foreign policy, the EU speaks with
one voice on key international issues.
The European Union is playing an essential role in the Middle East Peace Process, in
diplomacy with Iran and in strengthening the stability of the Western Balkans, including
Kosovo. It has troops, police and judges helping to save lives and stabilise countries and
regions after conflicts across the globe. It provides emergency relief1 in the wake of disasters.
Among the aims of the Common Foreign Policy are:
-to safeguard the EU's values, fundamental interests, security, independence and integrity;
-to consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of
international law;
-to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security;
-to assist populations, countries and regions confronting natural or man-made disasters.

Introduction
The European Union, as part of the Quartet2, is committed to assisting and facilitating the
implementation of the Roadmap3, which lays out reciprocal steps by the Israeli Government
and the Palestinian Authority in the political, security, economic, humanitarian, and institution

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Emergency relief is defined as „the provision of essential needs to individuals, families and communities in the
immediate aftermath of an emergency “
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The Quartet on the Middle East or Middle East Quartet or simply the Quartet, is a foursome of nations and
international and supranational entities involved in mediating the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. The Quartet
comprises the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia. The group was established
in Madrid in 2002, recalling Madrid Conference of 1991, as a result of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
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The Roadmap for peace or road map for peace was a plan to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict proposed by
the Quartet on the Middle East.

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building fields, that will result in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable
Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours.
The European Council of 17 and 18 June 2004 reaffirmed the readiness of the EU to
support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in particular,
in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity.
The European Union Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support was formally
established by an Exchange of Letters on 20 April 2005 between the Palestinian Prime
Minister Ahmed Qurei and the EU Special Representative to the Middle-East Peace Process
Marc Otte.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council of 18 July 2005 reiterated the EU
commitment to contributing to the development of Palestinian security capacity through the
Palestinian Civil Police, in coordination with the US Security Coordinator.
It also agreed in principle that EU support to the Palestinian Civil Police should take the
form of an European Security and Defence Policy mission building on the work of the EU
Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support in cooperation with all the parties
concerned.
EU assistance will be conditional on the extent of the Palestinian Authority’s
commitment and support for police reorganisation and reform. An adequate mechanism for
coordination and cooperation with the relevant Palestinian authorities will be established
during the planning phase to ensure their involvement in the development and follow-up of
EUPOL COPPS. An adequate mechanism for coordination and cooperation with the relevant
Israeli authorities will be established to ensure their facilitation of the EUPOL COPPS
activities.
EUPOL COPPS will be set in the wider context of the international community’s effort to
support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in
particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity. Close coordination
between EUPOL COPPS and other international actors involved in security assistance,
including the US Security Coordinator, as well as those providing support to the Palestinian
Ministry of Interior, will be ensured.
EUPOL COPPS will implement its mandate in the context of a situation which poses a
threat to law and order, the security and safety of individuals, and to the stability of the area

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and which could harm the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy 4 as set out
in Article 11 of the Treaty.5

The Mission of EUPOL COPPS

EUPOL COPPS, established on 1 January 2006, is the EU Police and Rule of Law Mission
for the occupied Palestinian territory. Initially the Mission was established as a Police Mission
comprising a Police Advisory Section.
In 2008 a Rule of Law Section was added.
EUPOL COPPS (the EU Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support), mainly through
these two sections, assists the Palestinian Authority in building its institutions, for a future
Palestinian state, focused on security and justice sector reforms. This is effected under
Palestinian ownership and in accordance with the best European and international standards.
Ultimately the Mission’s objective is to improve the safety and security of the Palestinian
people.
The Mission forms part of the wider EU effort to support Palestinian state building, in the
context of working towards a comprehensive peace, based on a two-State solution.
EUPOL COPPS is fully dedicated to the inclusion of human rights as well as a gender
perspective and gender-mainstreaming6 standards in all of its activities, both within the
Mission and while working with our Palestinian counterparts.

The tasks of EUPOL COPPS

• To support the Palestinian Civil Police reform and development;
• To strengthen and support the Criminal Justice System;
• To improve Prosecution-Police interaction;
• To coordinate and facilitate external donor assistance to the Palestinian Civil Police.

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The European Union has a Common Foreign Policy.
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COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2005/797/CFSP of 14 November 2005 on the European Union Police Mission for
the Palestinian Territories
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Gender mainstreaming is the public policy concept of assessing the different implications for people of
different genders of any planned policy action, including legislation and programmes, in all areas and levels.
Mainstreaming essentially offers a pluralistic approach that values the diversity among people of different
genders.
The concept of gender mainstreaming was first proposed at the 1985 Third World Conference on Women
in Nairobi, Kenya. The idea has been pushed in the United Nations development community. The idea was
formally featured in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, and was cited in the
document that resulted from the conference, the Beijing Platform for Action.

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The background of EUPOL COPPS
The European Union has long been at the forefront of efforts for peace in the Middle East. Its
priorities include further strengthening law and order, and in this context, EUPOL COPPS is
an important element in the improvement of the safety and security in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.

EUPOL COPPS builds on the work of the EU Coordination Office for Palestinian Police
Support, established earlier within the office of the EU Special Representative for the Middle
East Peace Process. This initiative followed the expression by EU leaders in June 2004 of
their readiness to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order
and, in particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity.

Facts and Figures

Theatre: Occupied Palestinian Territories
Headquarters: Ramallah, the West Bank
Starting date: 1 January 2006
Head of Mission: Kauko Aaltomaa
Mission strength: 72 international staff and 40 national staff.
Mission budget: EUR 12,667 million (1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019).
Contributing States: Currently, all 28 EU Member States as well as Canada, Norway and
Turkey can contribute to the Mission.

Organisation - Mission Organigram