The Spanish Police and international cooperation

The Spanish National Police has extensive experience in National Police international cooperation, which began with its formal joining of Interpol Spain in 1928. Years later, it joined what was then known as the European Communities and the Schengen Area in 1991, followed by the accession to SIRENE Spain. In 1993, the National Police joined the launch of the European police cooperation agency, EUROPOL. Over the years, international police cooperation has been strengthened through increased presence and activity in these international forums and bodies, with a greater number of accredited counselors, attaches, and liaison officers.

Currently, the Spanish National Police has accredited counselors and attaches in 99 countries: 36 in Europe, 22 in America, 25 in Africa, and 16 in Asia. Furthermore, National Police officers are also present at the headquarters of INTERPOL, EUROPOL, OLAF, European Union institutions, FRONTEX, EUROJUST, the OAS, the United Nations, the German BKA, the French DCPAF, the OCRTIS in Martinique, the French PAU Prefecture, and the MAOC-N in Portugal.

Recently, the International Cooperation Division was created within the General Directorate of the Police, a fact that strengthens at the highest level the importance of a collaboration that the Spanish National Police has always maintained as a priority objective.

The new International Cooperation Division was established to bring together all police offices and areas working in international coordination and cooperation; strengthen the network of counselors, attaches, and liaison officers; participate in operational units in international investigations and operations; reinforce the exchange of information and intelligence within the framework of EUROPOL, INTERPOL, and SIRENE, or develop the Ibero-American Police School, among other objectives.

The Spanish National Police and FIAP have been working together on the international projection of the Spanish police since 1997, when they jointly presented a project for Hungary titled “Police force training programme”. Since that first joint international project, both institutions have submitted project proposals to the European Commission on countless occasions, having won, executed, and completed more than 40 projects funded by various European Commission instruments up until 2013, which has fostered and boosted Spanish National Police international cooperation.

FIAP and the CNP have worked together supporting the stabilization and association processes of candidate countries to the EU, as well as potential candidate countries, from the Europe of 15 to the current 28 Member States, providing technical assistance and advice on the transposition of the Schengen acquis, as well as on the modernization of structures and work procedures in the field of security.

Likewise, the joint collaboration of both institutions has allowed for the presentation and execution of projects within the framework of the financial instrument of the European Neighborhood Policy, aimed at strengthening governance and interregional cross-border police cooperation in the Mediterranean basin and other countries bordering the EU. In particular, they have participated in the establishment and adaptation of police forces, good governance and management, the application of the Rule of Law, respect for human rights, and the fight against fraud, corruption, organized crime, and terrorism.

Joint external cooperation actions have also included support for the stability of third countries, sharing police tools, methods, and best practices. In recent years, Africa has become a place where both institutions participate jointly, and where the security and stability of its regions occupy an important part of the external action of both FIAP and the Spanish National Police.

Currently, the CNP and the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies work together on the execution of technical-police activities in more than 22 projects in various regions of the world, including China. Finally, due to special historical ties and the strategic nature for our country, we wish to highlight the important work carried out in Ibero-America and the Caribbean with major projects such as AMERIPOL, PASS-HONDURAS, as well as others like ENLCD-PERU, where FIAP and the CNP, under the Ministry of the Interior, lead European Working Teams.

Editorial Note (updated February 2026): This content has been updated to reflect the current context and to highlight the continued strategic partnership between the Spanish National Police and FIAP. The International Cooperation Division remains the cornerstone for projecting Spanish public police expertise within European Union projects and international organizations.

Resumen

Nombre del artículo

The Spanish Police and international cooperation

Descripción

Alicia Malo, Commissioner of the International Cooperation Division of the Spanish National Police (CNP), reviews in this article the long history of the institution in this field, as well as the various projects carried out jointly with FIAP.

Autor

FIAP Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas

Publisher Name

https://www.fiap.gob.es

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