Previous Article
News
Presentations and materials of the 4th Framework Decisions Expert Meeting now available!
33 participants from 17 countries gathered in Brussels, Belgium for the 4th edition of the Framework Decisions Expert Meeting on the 25th of September 2018. The meeting was organised to support and promote the implementation of the Framework Decisions throughout Europe and make recommendations/actions on how to enhance the implementation. The meeting was kindly hosted by Maisons de Justice, the probation service for the French speaking part of Belgium.
Since the last Expert Meeting in September 2017, CEP has worked hard on the actions that were agreed upon during this meeting. A questionnaire was send out and an analysis was made. CEP also produced a leaflet for the offenders, an informative guideline for probation officers and an animation video about the framework decisions on probation. These were presented during the meeting by CEP Policy Officer Maria Lindström. These are all preliminary versions of the materials. After the meeting, the participants are given the chance to suggest improvements.
Prof. Ioan Durnescu presented the new project “Probation Observatory Training and Network (PONT), which will start soon. The project aims at mapping and identifying local networks that work together in the EU Framework Decisions, and to provide training to them. He also presented a Framework Decision 2008/947 case study. After having presented the case, Ioan emphasized the importance for offenders to know what to expect regarding their supervision in another country. In fact, if there is not enough information that can be provided to them and if they are not fully aware of what to expect, is it really possible for them to agree on a transfer?
The final presenter was Mr. Ralph Bunche, Regional Director Europe of Fair Trials. He told the participants about the project Beyond Surrender. This EU-wide project that has looked into the use of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) and the impact on the life of extradited people. Ralph Bunch stressed that European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is used too much in some countries where the European Supervision Order (ESO) could and should be used instead. There is an over use of the EAW instead of using the legislation with ESO that allows people to be in their home countries and which would make things more humane and better for both the person his-/herself and his/her family and/or children. After his presentation he showed the participants a short documentary about the impact of the European Arrest Warrant on the life of the person that is arrested, his or her family and children.
Presentations and report
Report Framework Decisions Expert Meeting
Presentation by Maria Lindström
Presentation about the PONT project by Ioan Durnescu
Related News
Keep up to date with the latest developments, stories, and updates on probation from across Europe and beyond. Find relevant news and insights shaping the field today.
Recap
Probation outside Europe
Governance Oversight and Accountability Mechanisms in Probation and Parole: Compare and Contrast Europe and USA
19/09/2025
Confederation of European Probation (CEP) and American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) organized an insightful webinar that introduced the theme “Governance oversight and accountability mechanisms in Probation and Parole. Compare and contrast Europe and USA”. This event took place on Thursday, 18 September 2025.
Recap
CEP Events, Framework Decisions
Recap: Expert Workshop on Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA
16/09/2025
The Expert Workshop held on September 10–11, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium, brought together senior managers, probation practitioners, criminal justice professionals such as lawyers and prosecutors from across Europe as well as representatives of the European Commission, Academy of European Law and European Judicial Network to discuss the advancements in the implementation of Framework Decisions 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA. Hosted at the Houses of Justice, the CEP Expert Workshop served as a dynamic platform for mutual learning, collaboration, and strategic planning.
New
Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Katharina Heitz on the Ressources-Risk-Inventory in Probation
11/09/2025
The 14th episode of Division_Y features Katharina Heitz, Head of the Central Department for Social Work at the Public Probation and Parole Service Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Recap
CEP Board, Probation in Europe
CEP at ESC 2025: Penal Policy Transfer and Ageing in Prison in Focus
08/09/2025
The Confederation of European Probation (CEP) had a strong presence at the 25th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (EUROCRIM 2025), held in Athens from 3 to 6 September 2025. As one of Europe’s largest gatherings of criminologists, the ESC annual conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to exchange knowledge on crime, justice, and social responses. This year’s theme was “Logos of Crime and Punishment,” inspired by classical Greek philosophy.
Probation in Europe, Technology
Have Your Say: EU Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice (2025–2030)
18/08/2025
The European Commission has opened a Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice: 2025–2030 European Judicial Training Strategy.
Reading corner
Criminal Justice
Parole Futures
18/08/2025
At a time when many parole systems are experiencing considerable strain, the aims of this collection are twofold: first, to encourage systematic and critical reflection on the rationalities, institutions and practices of parole. Second, to think big, and pose ambitious ‘what if’ questions about the possible futures of parole and prison release. Offering novel insights from Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America, this collection builds the case for, and then showcases, a ‘way of doing’ parole research that is global in outlook, interdisciplinary in approach and unapologetically normative in character.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.