The Diplomat
A group of 19 representatives of the border authorities of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay (Tripartite Command) concluded this week a visit to Spain to learn first-hand about cross-border cooperation between the Spanish and Portuguese police.
The delegation, which was able to analyze in particular the work against cross-border crime carried out by the Spanish National Police in Madrid, Vigo and Tui (Pontevedra), started with a meeting at T4 of the Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas airport to learn about techniques for the identification and treatment of different crimes at this point of entry, according to the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Public Administration and Policies (FIIAPP), a public entity linked to the Spanish Cooperation, in a press release.
Subsequently, the Latin American specialists attended two joint operations: one maritime, in international waters between Spain and Portugal; and another on land, to learn first-hand about the cooperation strategies of the European Union’s Integrated Border System. They were also able to learn about the Athens Point, the National Police system shared with other security forces to detect false documentation.
The representatives of the delegation were able to share their respective challenges and strategies regarding cross-border crime prevention. The delegation consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Security, the Federal Police and the National Directorate of Migration of Argentina; the Federal Police and the National Secretariat of Justice of Brazil; and the National Directorate of Migration, the National Anti-Drug Secretariat and the National Police of Paraguay.
This activity has been organized by EUROFRONT, a cooperation program financed by the EU and which, through the FIIAPP, counts on the participation of officials from the Spanish National Police and other institutions involved in border management to exchange knowledge and strategies with their counterparts in Latin America.
This exchange of knowledge between regions is part of the EUROFRONT methodology, which develops its action with seven partner countries in a national dimension, but pays special attention to the promotion of the regional dimension, facilitating collective work between countries, the production of common tools and the work in supranational alliances and networks. In September 2022, a delegation made up of specialized agents from Colombia and Ecuador learned first-hand about the joint operations of the European Police in Operation Crossing the Strait, Operation Minerva and the port of Algeciras.
