The Cyprus police have taken extra security measures to ensure the safety of all the guests – including heads of state – the island will welcome during the six months of its first ever Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Members of the force are responsible for the safe transfer and movements of the guests to and from the different venues, including the Filoxenia Conference Center, in Nicosia, which will host Informal Councils and various other meetings.
A permanent force of 160 people is stationed at the Filoxenia Center whereas a crisis management team is operating at Police Headquarters to handle every day issues and any other unforeseen incidents.
In an interview with CNA, the Chief of the Police Michalis Papageorgiou noted that Police started their preparation long ago and drafted a strategy as regards the safety and the security of the guests.
The Police know in detail the number of guests, the venues, the exact times of the various meetings and the times of arrival and departure of guests and take measures accordingly, he said.
According to the Chief of Police, there is a detailed plan with all the logistics and other information about the Ministerial and other meetings and each police officer involved with Presidency matters knows exactly what they are supposed to do. “Nothing is left to chance”, he stressed.
He explained that work on police duties during the Presidency began as far back as 2008, through exchange of information and consultation with the competent authorities.
“I would like to send a message about the Cyprus Presidency: its success is a matter for everybody here, so is its failure and the impact of failure would fall on all of us. We all have to cooperate, the Presidency is a national issue and we have to manage it as such,” he pointed out.
He said that a total of 6 officers have been posted to Brussels and another 13 officers will be traveling to the Belgian capital for the various European Councils in order to reinforce the safety of the head of states.
Asked about the level of cooperation with the Presidency Secretariat and the Ministries in dealing with various issues, Papageorgiou said that there is daily contact and a coordinator from each service or ministry whose job is to handle any unforeseen incidents.
According to Papageorgiou, the Cyprus police are presiding over 60 working groups and committees in Brussels during the current six-month Presidency.
He explained that a total of 26 meetings and seminars will take place in Cyprus on police matters and some 60-80 meetings in Brussels.
The chairmen of the groups and committees have been trained in order to be able to participate in discussions and reach consensus especially in political matters.
Asked about the priorities of the Cyprus Police during the Presidency, the Chief referred to cross-border cooperation and the protection of personal data.
As regards cross-border cooperation, Papageorgiou said the Police are organizing two operations on a European level, one under the name “Aphrodite” which focuses on illegal migration and the second called “Cycar” which has to do with the fight against the movement of stolen vehicles throughout Europe.
Referring to cross-border cooperation, he said the Cyprus Police want to focus also on cyber crime as well as the destruction of cultural heritage. In addition to this, they will host workshops and seminars in Cyprus focusing on domestic violence.
Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, has assumed the EU rotating presidency on July 1st for a period of six months.