HISTORY

The FIEP (French acronym for France-Italie-Espagne-Portugal, wich are the first four "historic" members) is an associationconsisting ofthe police forces with military status of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Founded in 1994, it included then the French National Gendarmerie, the Italian Carabinieri Corps and the Spanish Civil Guard. It was quickly joined by the Portuguese National Republican Guard in 1996, then by the Turkish gendarmerie in 1998, the Dutch Royal Marechaussee and the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie both in 1999, and finally by the Romanian Gendarmerie in 2002. The Argentinian gendarmerie and the Chilean Carabinieros joined the association as associated members in October 2005.

AIMS AND STAKES

The association of these seven institutions aims at promoting an innovative and active reflection on the forms of police co-operation, and to value their model of organisation and structures abroad.

The two major stakes of the association are:

- The development of the capacity to be recognized, at the level of European authorities, as a forum and a structure of separate police co-operation, capable of leading concrete actions,
- The will to pursue works begun with the European members of the FIEP, concerning the definition and establishement of an European policeforce , to operate in a context of regional crisis in Europe. This reflection perfectly comes within the framework of the European policy on security and defence ( PESD), of which outlines are currently in the process of definition. FIEP countries wich are not members of the EU are associated to works in the perspective of additional contributions.

ORGANISATION

According to its 1999 new Statutes, the FIEP is articulated as a Senior Council gathering the general directors and chief commanders of members institutions members who meet annually at a summit, and

four technical commissions, which meet once a year :
- "Human Resources" commission
- "Service organisation" commission
- "New technologies and Logistics " commission
- "European Affairs" commission (consisting of the institutions of members countries of the European Union)

The chairman of the association (appointed annually by rotation among the general directors and chief commanders) assisted by the secretary of the chairman. The chair is currently being held by the general commander of the Italian Carabinieri.

See also : Statutes of the association