21 October 2025
The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group has called for stronger cross-border police cooperation against terrorism, new criminal networks, and hybrid attacks, while urging greater recognition of the work of the officers who keep Europe safe.
Speaking in a European Parliament debate on the role of the police in the EU’s internal security strategy, Assita Kanko, the ECR Coordinator in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, warned that Europe’s security environment has fundamentally changed.
Kanko said:
“These are times when the security landscape has fundamentally shifted — cybercrime, hybrid warfare, organised crime and persistent terrorism. The lines between internal and external security are blurred by these global challenges.
“The EU must view these threats as a common European problem demanding the implementation of a unified, robust and adaptable internal security strategy.”
Kanko emphasised that police officers must be valued more highly and that supporting them is a shared responsibility for society as a whole.
She said:
“In every European country, you will hear horrifying stories about how police officers are being treated.
“We need to honour them. We need to support them. We need to address their needs by prioritising resources to improve their functioning and well-being — and by giving back a sense of purpose to their mission.”
Highlighting the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) as a rare example of effective European cooperation, she described it as “a triumph of our common pragmatic resolve over bureaucratic obstacles.” The system, she noted, strengthens Schengen’s external borders and enables real-time alerts on individuals or documents linked to criminal databases.
“It is a vital shield to strengthen our Schengen external borders and empower our border protection officers,” said Kanko.