Vienna, 11 June 2025 – The Expert Working Group (EWG) of the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE), one of the PCC SEE’s key decision-making bodies, convened for its thirty-third meeting under the auspices of the Austrian Chairmanship-in-Office.

National delegations from the PCC SEE Contracting Parties gathered to discuss recent developments related to the implementation of both the PCC SEE and the PCC Prüm frameworks. The meeting included a review of progress on the ratification of the Protocol amending the PCC SEE Prüm Agreement, as well as updates from non-EU Contracting Parties regarding their efforts to meet essential preconditions for the automated exchange of DNA, dactyloscopic, and vehicle registration data.

The EWG adopted the evaluation procedure for the automated exchange of dactyloscopic data.

A central focus of the meeting was to reflect on the operationalisation of existing mechanisms, with discussions addressing legal and practical challenges in cross-border cooperation. Participants also explored potential strategic priorities for future support from the PCC SEE Secretariat.

The meeting concluded with the announcement of the retirement of Mr. Peter Eglauer, Head of the PCC SEE Secretariat, and the introduction of his proposed successor, Mr. Felix Gautsch of Austria.