European police and customs chiefs discuss security challenges in The Hague

From September 28 to 30, 2026, the European Police Chiefs Summit and an informal meeting were held at Europol headquarters in The Hague. The event brought together over 500 leaders and representatives from law enforcement and customs agencies, representing 59 countries and 15 international organizations, including INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization. The Cypriot delegation was led by Chief of Police Themistos Arnaoutis and Director of the Department of Customs Mary Charalampous-Kliriotou.

Discussions focused on modern security threats, with a primary emphasis on the impact of artificial intelligence on both crime and law enforcement operations. Participants examined the dual nature of AI, which provides new investigative capabilities but also introduces sophisticated risks. Other key topics included legal data access, countering disinformation, the prevention of radicalization, and the enforcement of European Union sanctions. A special session for customs directors addressed the use of drones and the necessity of improved cross-border cooperation between police and customs authorities to maintain public security and trust.