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Projects

Enhancing Cross-border Mutual Legal Assistance and Recognition of Decisions within the Context of Detention

This project, led by the Europäische Rechts Akademie (ERA) and co-financed by the Justice Programme 2014-2020 of the European Union, consists of five seminars, two of which were planned to take place in Bucharest and Strasbourg in 2020, and three in Bucharest and Brussels in 2021. Each seminar focused on a different aspect of enhancing cross-border mutual legal assistance and recognition of decisions within the context of detention, with the aim to provide practical training for judges, prosecutors and lawyers in private practice, as well as prison and probation staff, in the field of detention. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 all events in 2021 had to be replaced by online ones, but a face-to-face seminar in Bucharest was scheduled on 28 February-1 March 2022. 

In the project’s e-library you will find the five seminars’ background documentations, speakers’ contributions, as well as all of the e-presentations:  e-Library – Detention and MLA (era-comm.eu)The general objective is to debate and assess how European legislation, standards and forms of cooperation are applied in the field of detention in the EU Member States, as well as to look at the matters from a perspective that encourages better cooperation between Member States, so as to ensure that the highest possible standards are maintained and mutual trust and recognition are enhanced. EU and Council of Europe (CoE) standards, best practice within Member States, European Court of Human Right’s (ECtHR) and CJEU case law will be discussed and assessed during the seminars. The framework decisions in relation to the transfer of prisoners, probation and alternative sanctions, the European Supervision Order and European Arrest Warrant will be examined in greater detail and their application and use discussed. The seminars will also refer to the main uses of the Council of Europe’s recommendations on detention, the non-binding European Prison Rules.More information about the project partners and methodology can be found here.

Our knowledge of Framework Decisions

The European Union and the Council of Europe have become increasingly important players in the development of probation in Europe. CEP is not only the voice of probation in Europe, it also wants to stimulate and support initiatives of international cooperation on probation and on the implementation of EU regulations. Below you will find all the information about the implementation of Framework Decisions  2009/829/JHA and 2008/947/JHA.

Related News

Check out the latest news and updates on this project’s focus area.

New

CEP Events

CEP presents the four winners of the CEP Awards 2025

27/10/2025

During the General Assembly aand CEP Conference on Gender-Based Violence in Vienna, Austria, CEP presented the four CEP Awards to its winners With the awards, CEP would like to celebrate outstanding contributions to probation within Europe. We were glad to receive all the impressive submissions of which the following winners are chosen. Congratulations!

New

CEP Board

Meet the CEP Board

22/10/2025

The General Assembly takes place every three years. The last General Assembly was held on 15 October 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
The CEP Board has a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer and a maximum of eight ordinary Board members. The General Assembly elects the President, two Vice-Presidents and a minimum of three and a maximum of five other board members from among its members. Three members may be appointed by the Board from among the full or associated members to ensure that the specific expertise and interests are represented. The Board appoints the Treasurer, who can be a board member or an ex-officio board member of which an explanation is given in the internal regulations.

Go to the Board members page to learn more about the board.

Recap

CEP Events, CEP members, Gender-based violence

CEP 15th General Assembly and International Conference on Gender-Based Violence in Probation

16/10/2025

From 14 to 16 October 2025, Vienna hosted the 15th CEP General Assembly and the CEP International Conference on Gender-Based Violence in Probation: Challenges and Lessons Learned. The event, organized in cooperation with NEUSTART, brought together over 100 CEP members, probation professionals, policymakers, and researchers from across Europe to reflect, exchange experiences, and discuss the topic of gender-based violence from the perspective of probation, restorative justice and prison.

New

Probation in Europe

New Vodcast Episode: Leo Tigges on Probation Capacity Building

09/10/2025

The 15th episode of Division_Y features Leo Tigges, a freelancing consultant and former Secretary General of the Confederation of European Probation (CEP).

In this episode, host Jo Tein (CEP board member) speaks with Leo about his professional journey and his co-authored publication with Steve Pitts on Probation Capacity Building. The discussion highlights international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategies for strengthening probation systems across Europe.

▶️ Watch the full interview (English with German subtitles) below

New

Framework Decisions

CEP Updates Framework Decision 947 Guides

06/10/2025

CEP has released updated versions of its guides for persons under probation supervision and for probation staff, reflecting its continued commitment to cross-border cooperation in criminal justice. These revisions aim to promote broader use of Framework Decision 947, which facilitates the mutual recognition of probation measures and alternative sanctions across EU member states.

 

The guides are to be found here.

Recap

ITSCCS

Building Core Skills, Building Connections: V edition of the ITSCCS 2025 in Barcelona

03/10/2025

Barcelona was the stage for the CEP International Training School on Core Correctional Skills (ITSCCS) 2025, held from 29 September to 3 October. Over five days, the Centre d’Estudis Jurídics i Formació Especialitzada became a hub for practitioners eager to sharpen the practical tools that define effective work in the criminal justice field.

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