On 20 and 21 February 2025, experts from law enforcement authorities, academia and non-governmental organisations gathered at Europol headquarters for the first ‘Fundamental Rights at the Heart of Policing’ conference, organised by Europol’s Fundamental Rights Officer.
Over 130 participants from 25 EU Member States and 11 non-EU countries joined the event, as well as representatives from the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, the EU Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training who contributed to the exchange.
Participants discussed and shared experiences and perspectives on respecting fundamental rights in policing and finding collaborative ways to ensure these are embedded in law enforcement standards and practices.
During the two-day conference, experts discussed ongoing developments and current challenges in fundamental rights.
They focused on the causes and catalysts of possible fundamental rights violations and how to fight racism and overcome cultural divides and social fragmentation through the effective promotion and upholding of fundamental rights in policing and through continuous training, stakeholder engagement and improved processes.
Respect for fundamental rights is central to all law enforcement activities; it ensures compliance with the rule of law, gives accountability to public actors and provides a framework of ethical standards.
Safeguarding privacy and data protection through proportionate, transparent and lawful practices is the duty of law enforcement, especially in the context of current rapid technological changes that require continuous evolution of methods, tools and policies.
The conference was concluded by Europol’s Fundamental Rights Officer, Dirk Allaerts, appointed in 2024 to support the agency in safeguarding the respect of fundamental rights in all its mandated activities, with a focus on assessing the development and use of new technologies and their impact on fundamental rights.
