Sarajevo, 22 January 2014 - The two-year twinning project entitled “Support to the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies (DPC)” concluded today in Sarajevo.
Ambassador Peter Sorensen, Head of EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative, noted that the twinning project has undoubtedly helped the DPC on its way to become a functional institution.
“The DPC was designed to become a 'centre of excellence' for international police cooperation. One of the achievements of the EU twinning project that we close today is the preparation of the DPC for becoming such a centre. There is still some work to be done to enable the Directorate to fully carry out its function as a focal point for international police cooperation. The EU and the authorities in BiH have jointly invested in building up the Directorate. We have put in both, political capital and financial means and we are jointly accountable for making this work,” said Ambassador Sorensen.
In addition to improving the segment of the international police cooperation, the project contributed to the enhancements in the system of collection, exchange, and analysis of the intelligence and protection of the VIPs and facilities. "These three segments are of utmost importance for strengthening of both regional and international police cooperation, more efficient fight against all forms of crime as well as application of the European standards in this field", said Fahrudin Radončić, Minister of Security of BiH.
The Directorate has been entrusted with the three roles: to enhance the mutual communication, coordination, and cooperation of the law enforcement agencies in BiH, to act as a focal point in the international operational police cooperation, and to provide protection to the VIPs and facilities.
“The Directorate has no investigative powers and as such is not a rival but rather a service to other law enforcement agencies with the aim to contribute to the more efficient fight against crime through improvement of communication, cooperation, and coordination of the law enforcement in BiH and at the international level,” said Himzo Selimović, Director of the DPC.
This project was implemented by the Netherlands Police Agency (KLPD) with the support of Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Europol.
“I would like to convey the gratitude of my authorities to the European Commission, because it was the Commission who was willing to give the re-organization of the police sector in this country another try, when previously very costly efforts had failed,” said Jurriaan Kraak, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH.
The progress is obvious. Yet further support in achieving a full functionality of the DPCs needs to be granted. “This project paved the way for further strengthening of the Directorate. With the reports, assessments and recommendations of the experts participating in the project activities, there is enough ammunition to continue in the upcoming period,” said Pim Cappelle, Resident Twinning Adviser.
The ceremony concluded with the official inauguration of the situation room which will allow all law enforcement agencies in BiH to jointly react to public security and safety threats.
The twinning project was funded by the EU from IPA 2008 in amount of 1.2 million euro. Since 2007, the EU has allocated under the Instrument for Pre-Accession 30 million EUR in the law enforcement sector and this support will continue.