JAVIER ZARZALEJOS PARTICIPATES IN CEPOL CONFERENCE ON HIGH-RISK CRIMINAL NETWORKS IN OSTIA, ITALY

On Tuesday, March 25, Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament, took part in the opening of the CEPOL 2025 Research and Science Conference, held at the Guardia di Finanza School of Economic and Financial Police in Ostia, Italy.

The event was inaugurated jointly by CEPOL Executive Director Montserrat Marín López, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, and Javier Zarzalejos, in a ceremony that brought together over 330 experts from 54 countries, all committed to strengthening cross-border cooperation and using innovation to combat high-risk criminal networks.

In his speech, Zarzalejos highlighted the importance of fostering the link between academic knowledge and police practice. He stated that “the CEPOL conference is an essential platform to bridge scientific research and the needs of frontline professionals. In an era of hybrid threats and constantly evolving challenges, evidence-based training and policymaking are more necessary than ever. It is an honour to support CEPOL’s commitment to excellence in security and police training.”

The conference, focused on combating high-risk criminal networks, spotlighted the digitalisation of organised crime, hybrid threats, and the need for a coordinated response involving law enforcement, judicial authorities, academia, and the private sector.