Fostering cooperation and deepening mutual understanding among key Palestinian criminal justice stakeholders and civil society in view of the establishment of a functioning and sovereign Palestinian state remains high on the EU agenda, thus is a key EUPOL COPPS engagement.

As a follow up to the EUPOL COPPS lead Building Bridges in Bethlehem’s (BBB) workshop held last year, EUPOL COPPS was in Bethlehem on 16/10. The engagement marks the continuous Mission commitment, jointly by Justice and Security Sector Reform Units, for creating a strategic network between Palestinian entities representing the whole criminal justice chain and other key social actors, playing a central role in promoting rule of law, stability, trust, and community cohesion. As an outcome of the Building Bridges event the cooperation and dialogue between criminal justice stakeholders are strengthened. Topics discussed included the current state of play on overcoming overcrowding of cases (backlog) with practical internal, doable here & now solutions and enhancing efficiency in providing justice public services to the community.