Kauko Aaltomaa, the new head of EUPOL COPPS in Ramallah. (Photo courtesy of EUPOL COPPS)

RAMALLAH, September 30, 2017 (WAFA) - The European Union‘s Political and Security Committee has appointed Kauko Aaltomaa, a high-ranking official in the Finnish Ministry of Interior, as new Head of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS). He will take up his duties on 1 October 2017, according to a press statement.

EUPOL COPPS is a part of wider EU efforts in support of Palestinian state building in the context of working towards a comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution.

EUPOL COPPS has been assisting the Palestinian Authority in building the institutions of a future state of Palestine in the areas of policing and criminal justice since January 2006.

Through its contribution to security and justice sector reform, the mission supports efforts to increase the security of the Palestinian population and to reinforce the rule of law. EUPOL COPPS‘s current mandate runs until 30 June 2018. The headquarters of the mission are located in Ramallah.

Kauko Aaltomaa succeeds Rodolphe Mauget (of French nationality) who had held the post since 17 February 2015.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and Palestinian Civil Police concluded on Friday a five-day study visit to Germany facilitated by EUPOL COPPS for police-prosecution cooperation, with a particular focus on corruption crimes.

During the visit to Cologne, the Palestinian delegation -- Anti-Corruption Prosecutors headed by the Deputy Attorney General Akram Al-Katib, and PCP investigators headed by the head of the PCP Criminal Investigation Department Col. Marouf Albarbari – met representatives of the Cologne Prosecution Office and Cologne Police, specialized in corruption crimes.

The two teams discussed several topics, including  the German system of cooperation (and delegation of investigative actions) between the Prosecution and the Police; the German legal framework for the protection of witnesses and whistle blowers and the roles of the Prosecution and Police in the proceedings for the protection of witnesses; presentation of real life cases of corruption crimes investigated and prosecuted by the Cologne Police and Cologne Prosecution Office focusing on the investigative steps taken from the beginning of the investigations up to the trial; the handling of informants in the German legal system.

The visit, which was funded by EUPOL COPPS, comes in the context of the Mission’s efforts to continue its support to the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission and strengthening the cooperation between the Commission and the PCP in the fight against corruption.

The Palestinian delegation to Germany. (Photo courtesy of EUPOL COPPS) 

M.K.