Investigation Reveals: EU’s Cooperation with Arab Interior Ministers’ Council

This investigation is co-published with Statewatch.

Recently, the executive director of the EU’s law enforcement training agency CEPOL, Montserrat Marín Lopez, met with Mohammad Bin Ali Kuman, the secretary general of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council (AIMC) in Cairo. The aim of this meeting was to explore future collaborations between CEPOL and AIMC in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.

CEPOL’s announcement about the meeting highlighted strengthening cooperation without specifying the details. Emails and documents reveal that this collaboration involved information exchange on terrorism in the MENA/SWANA region, despite concerns about human rights violations.

One of the initiatives discussed was the EU’s Terrorism Situation and Trend report (TE-SAT), which was piloted in five Arab League countries. The documents also indicated a partnership between CEPOL and AIMC to establish a mutual training program.

Key Role of AIMC in Political Repression

The Arab Interior Ministers’ Council, a specialized body within the Arab League, aims to coordinate security efforts among Arab countries. It has been criticized for its involvement in the arrest and detention of political dissidents.

The AIMC’s collaboration with CEPOL raises concerns about human rights violations and surveillance practices in the region. The EU has been accused of prioritizing security dynamics over human rights in its dealings with Arab League states.

EU’s Security Collaborations with MENA Region

Besides CEPOL, the AIMC has cooperated with several EU agencies like Frontex, Eurojust, and Europol. The collaboration aims to enhance border management and security efforts in the MENA region.

However, concerns have been raised about the transparency and impact of such collaborations, especially in light of EU’s expanding surveillance training programs in non-EU countries.

Efforts to establish a working arrangement between CEPOL and AIMC have faced political obstacles within the AIMC. The report highlights the need for greater scrutiny and transparency in EU’s security collaborations with non-EU partners.

Continued Concerns About Security Dynamics

Despite criticisms and calls for transparency, the EU’s collaborations with AIMC and other Arab League entities continue, raising questions about the balance between security needs and human rights obligations.