Abstract:
The European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) was set up on 30 November 2009 by
Council Decision 2009/902/JHA repealing the establishing Council Decision
2001/427/JHA. The Network grew in the EU policy context on Member States’ initiatives.
The Network consists of a Board, with a rotating Chair, an Executive Committee and the
National Representatives from all Member States with their Substitutes if appointed; a
permanent Secretariat as well as National Contact Points appointed by each Member
State. The EUCPN Secretariat is hosted by Belgium in the project ‘Towards a European
Centre of Expertise on Crime Prevention’ financially supported by the Prevention of and
Fight against Crime Programme of the European Commission – Directorate-General
Home Affairs. In line with the Council Decision, a Multiannual Strategy sets out the longterm
orientations for the Network. The EUCPN’s vision is to be a primary source of crime
prevention within the EU. Therefore, the Network contributes to developing the various
aspects of crime prevention at the European Union level, taking into account the
European Union crime preventive strategy, and supports crime prevention activities and
good practices at the national and local level. The EUCPN Best Practice Conference and
the European Crime Prevention Award (ECPA) are just two of the prestigious and highquality
activities the EUCPN organizes annually, and which offer a platform for policymakers
and practitioners to meet each other and share experiences. Through internal
and external evaluations of the Network, which are scheduled on a regular basis,
feedback on the functioning of the EUCPN is provided and recommendations are
formulated to further professionalize and improve its performance. These will support the
Network in carrying out its long-term mission and turn it into an important reference
when it comes to crime prevention in Europe.
