ECTEG, an International Non-Profit Association (AISBL), is composed of European Union and European Economic Area Member States law enforcement agencies, international bodies, academia, private industry and experts.
Funded by the European Commission and working in close cooperation with Europol-EC3 and CEPOL, both members of the Advisory Group, ECTEG activities aim to:
- Support international activities to harmonise cybercrime training across international borders.
- Share knowledge, expertise and find training solutions.
- Promote standardisation of methods and procedures for training programmes and cooperation with other international organisations.
- Collaborate with academic partners to establish recognised academic qualifications in the field of cybercrime and work with universities that have already created such awards making them available across international borders.
- Collaborate with industry partners to establish frameworks whereby their existing and future efforts support law enforcement by the delivery of training, harmonised into an effective programme, making best use of available resources.
- Provide training and education material and reference trainers to international partners, supporting their efforts to instruct law enforcement on cybercrime issues globally.
The key role of ECTEG in developing training materials for law enforcement experts was acknowledged in the EU Agenda to Tackle Organised Crime 2021-2025 (COM-2021 170 final) and in other strategic documents. ECTEG is also a member of Europol-EC3’s Programme Board.
ECTEG’s history
ECTEG has actively developed training materials for law enforcement practitioners in cybercrime and digital investigations since 2001, acquiring longstanding experience and creating solid working relationships with national Law Enforcement Authorities, Europol and CEPOL.
The European Commission supported “Falcone” project JAI/2001/Falcone/127 – ‘Training: Cybercrime Investigation – building a platform for the future’ and recommended the creation of a suite of Europe-wide Cybercrime Investigator training courses at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels.
Europol agreed to act as the coordinating body and in 2007 created the “Europol Working Group on the Harmonisation of Cybercrime Investigation Training” to support its efforts.
The primary aim of the working group was to provide experience and knowledge to further enhance the coordination of cybercrime training, by identifying opportunities to build the capacity of countries to combat cybercrime through the development and delivery of a robust and enduring training programme.
The working group changed its name on the 11 November 2009 to “European Cybercrime Training and Education Group” (ECTEG). In November 2016, the informal group became officially an International Non-Profit Association with founder members from Law Enforcement and Academic world. On 25 December 2016, this was formalised by Royal Decree.