2025 Activity report
European Forum for Urban Security (Efus) 4, place de la République 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine tel +33 (0) 1 40 64 49 00 contact@efus.eu
Table of Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................2 1. Work topics........................................................................................................................................4 Audits and Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 4
> IcARUS project: creation of the Innovation Studio and of Corporate Network by Efus ........................... 4
Crisis management................................................................................................................................... 4
SPARROW (Solid preparedness and resilience for robust operations during disaster wilderness) ...... 4 DARE (Deployment & Engagement of Resources and Citizens for European Emergency Response) ... 6
Innovation & technologies..................................................................................................................... 7
TRANSCEND (Transdisciplinary methods for societal impact assessment and impact creation for security research technologies) ........................................................................................................................................... 7 AI for Cities project .................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Organised Crime .................................................................................................................................... 10 Drugs .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Coalition of the willing: European cities and regions against drug-related violence and trafficking . 12 CAPABLE (Cooperation and Partnership for Building Local Expertise on Drug-related Challenges) 12
Polarisation & Radicalisation ............................................................................................................ 14
OSPREY (Online Safety and Security for the Protection of Public-Facing Professionals and Democratic Resilience).......................................................................................................................................................... 14 PARTESS-COM (Participatory approaches to protecting places of worship, schools, and community centres) ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Police & Justice ....................................................................................................................................... 17
KOBAN (identifying future capabilities for community policing) ...................................................................... 17 EU-POLNET network .............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Security-related professions ............................................................................................................. 19
SafeSkills (Increasing Regional Availability of Skilled Labour in Safety and Security Sectors)............. 19
Public spaces ........................................................................................................................................... 21
PACTESUR 2 (Protect Allied Cities against TErrorism in Securing Urban aReas)....................................... 21
Mental health .......................................................................................................................................... 23
Respect to Protect .................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Calls for European projects ................................................................................................................ 25
2. The network ................................................................................................................................... 26 3. Efus’ ecosystem ............................................................................................................................. 26 4. Development .................................................................................................................................. 30 Innovation Studio for Urban Security and Corporate Network by Efus .......................................................... 30
5. Security, Democracy and Cities conference and manifesto ........................................... 31 6. Governance and structure ........................................................................................................ 32
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Foreword by Elizabeth Johnston, Efus Executive Director 2025 was a challenging, news-filled year globally, but for Efus members and our wider network, it was a busy and highly productive one. We tackled a wide array of urban security challenges, from drug trafficking and organised crime to local policing, technology, mental health, and the protection of public spaces. More than ever, fostering exchanges and sharing inspiring practices among European cities and regions of all sizes and political alignments strengthens our European cohesion and democratic project. Through our daily network exchanges and a dozen EU-funded projects, we collaborated with over 130 diverse partners, including local authorities, universities, NGOs, and private businesses. This network underscores a shared commitment to building peaceful cities where security is a democratic, shared, and universal good, offering a vital counter-narrative to political movements that promote repression as the only solution. While our work spanned many topics, two stood out as powerful reflections of evolving societal challenges: ● The spread of drug use and trafficking Illicit drug networks are moving beyond major cities into smaller communities and new neighbourhoods, impacting all aspects of local life. In response, we established the growing Coalition of the willing – against drug-related violence and trafficking within Efus. By leveraging collective action, this coalition of European cities and stakeholders aims to find practical tools to better prevent and counter drug-related violence at the local level. Taking a proactive and pragmatic approach, the Coalition will strengthen, share, and promote promising initiatives while lobbying for more ambitious policies globally. ● Protecting the well-being of elected officials and professionals Public-facing professionals and local elected officials are under unprecedented pressure. We are focusing on supporting them on two fronts: shielding them from rising online violence – which increasingly exacerbates real-world threats – and addressing the critical issue of mental health. Efus has joined new EU-wide consortiums dedicated to developing guidance and practical protective tools for these individuals. These professionals and politicians not only navigate daily interactions with citizens facing severe mental health crises, but they also experience intense professional stress and threats that compromise their own psychological and physical well-being. Supporting the women and men who dedicate their time and energy to local security is central to Efus’ mission. Their daily commitment is a true litmus test for our Efus 2025 activity report - page 2 of 35 -
democracy, proving that safety can be upheld through social cohesion, community building and collaboration. We extend our sincere gratitude to all our members, partners and field professionals for their unwavering dedication and vital work throughout Europe.
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1. Work topics Audits and Methodology > IcARUS project: creation of the Innovation Studio and of Corporate Network by Efus The Innovation Studio and Corporate Network by Efus are the two components of an initiative led by Efus, building on the IcARUS project that Efus led from 2020 to 2024. This initiative was selected by the European Commission’s Booster programme, which offers free strategic support to EU-funded project leaders to enhance their impact, dissemination and exploitation. As part of its post-IcARUS project activities, Efus has been receiving support from Booster experts since January 2025 to further refine the services offered by the Innovation Studio, which was officially launched in September 2025. > More information below in the Development section
Crisis management > European project SPARROW (Solid preparedness and resilience for robust operations during disaster wilderness) Efus is a partner in this new project led by the KIOS Excellence Centre of the University of Cyprus. > Objectives The SPARROW project seeks to reinforce society’s resilience, to improve crisis management, and to strengthen the response capacities of emergency services in case of major digital breakdown. > Activities The partners work on three main aspects: ● Build an integrated platform to include all the relevant actors and give citizens, local authorities and first responders the means to co-design efficient solutions. ● Contribute to European standards and promote the guidelines of the European Committee for Standardisation for managing crises. ● Strengthen cooperation between local, national and European institutions so that they respond to crises in a more coordinated manner.
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> Efus’ role Efus is in charge of collecting inspiring practices within its network of cities and of identifying the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure in case of major digital breakdown in cities. > Partners Besides Efus and KIOS, the project gathers 13 partners: Exus Software; Catalink Limited; Plan4all Zs; the Greek technology company Space Hellas Sa; Roadtwin S.R.O.; E Trikala Ae; Sitmp; Reaction Youth For The Prevention Ltd; Pravo Internet Foundation; Joafg; AMCC Consulting Ltd.; Gadsdon Steven Mark; Resilience Guard Gmbh. > Coordination for Efus Asma Kaouech and Bamba Niang > Duration September 2024 - August 2027 > Budget 3,808,562.50 € (Efus share: 255,562.50 €) - 100% funded by the European Commission SPARROW 2025 activities ● SPARROW represented at the European Commission’s ‘Projects to Policy’ seminar Efus presented the SPARROW project at a seminar organised in Brussels by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Home Affairs (DG HOME) and the European Research Executive Agency (REA), entitled ‘Projects to Policy’, on 4 and 5 June. The aim of this meeting was to better integrate the European Commission’s policy priorities into the projects it funds. ● Finalisation of the methodology Efus coordinated the finalisation of a methodological document focusing on the analysis of vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and the threats that may affect them. The document includes a typology of risks and existing practices regarding resilience and emergency communication. ● Coordination meeting in November 2025 A coordination meeting was held on 26 and 27 November in Vienna (Austria) at the premises of the partner organisation Johanniter (JOAFG). A multihazard simulation exercise was organised to test the SPARROW tools in a
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scenario combining major flooding, a power cut and a cyberattack. This exercise highlighted the challenges of coordination between stakeholders and reinforced the project’s relevance in supporting public decision-makers in the management of complex crises involving digital failures. > More information on the Sparrow page of our website
DARE (Deployment & Engagement of Resources and Citizens for European Emergency Response) Efus is a partner in this project coordinated by Fraunhofer INT (Germany). > Objective The DARE project aims to strengthen crisis preparedness, response and resilience by building on cooperation between local authorities, emergency services, volunteers and citizens. To this end, the project will focus on improving multi-stakeholder coordination, developing shared digital tools and promoting a common European crisis management culture. > Activities The partners will work to: ● identify local needs and best practices in crisis management ● develop and test tools to promote volunteer mobilisation and citizen participation ● suggest recommendations to strengthen coordination and resilience in the face of natural and technological disasters. > Efus’ role Efus brings the perspective of European cities and ensures that the solutions being developed meet the needs on the ground. It will contribute to mapping local practices, networking communities and validating tools in concrete urban contexts through practical field exercises. > Partners Fraunhofer INT (Germany), Pau Costa Foundation (Spain), Trilateral Research Ltd (Ireland/United Kingdom), VOST Europe (Portugal), Valabre (France), Estonian Academy of Security Sciences – ESAF (Estonia), Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe – BBK (Germany), Vereinigung zur Förderung des Deutschen Brandschutzes – vfdb (Germany), Formont – Regione Piemonte/Agenzia Piemonte Lavoro (Italy), End User Consortium – Civil Protection Authority (Spain), Carr Communications Ltd (Ireland), Public Safety Communication Europe Forum – PSCE
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(Belgium), University of Split – Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (Croatia) > Coordination for Efus Bamba Niang > Duration October 2025 - September 2028 > Budget €3,635,970.63 - (Efus share: €218,375) - 100% funded by the European Commission DARE 2025 activities ● Project kick-off meeting in October Efus and the 13 other European project partners met for the project kick-off meeting on 28–29 October in Berlin (Germany). The aim was to set out the implementation priorities and the involvement of the pilot cities.
Innovation & technologies > European project TRANSCEND (Transdisciplinary methods for societal impact assessment and impact creation for security research technologies) Efus was a partner in this project led by Trilateral Research Institute Ireland, which concluded in September 2025. > Objectives The project was about improving civil society engagement and assessment of civil society’s needs concerning security technologies. These technologies are increasingly present in our lives and citizens are aware of this, but in practice, they are engaged in only a limited way. This gap between development and civil society can generate public mistrust and hamper the development of technologies that really respond to citizens’ needs and take into account their diverse experiences. > Efus’ role Efus was responsible for involving member cities in the project and for communicating its results. As such, it organised a pilot exercise with a member city on the issue of countering crime and terrorism. More generally, Efus informed the project’s research partners on the needs of its member local authorities throughout
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the project. > Partners Besides Efus and Trilateral Research, the project gathered seven partners: the Dutch applied sciences organisation TNO; Fraunhofer applied sciences institute (Germany); European Organisation for Security (EOS); Austrian Red Cross (Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz); Oslo Institute for Research on Peace (Institutt for Fredsforskning, Norway); Moje Panstwo Foundation (Poland). > Coordination for Efus Bamba Niang and Anne Boisseau > Duration October 2022 – September 2025 (36 months) > Budget 1,751,315 € (Efus’ share: 219,125 €) – 100% was funded by the European Commission TRANSCEND 2025 activities ● Four webconferences With a view to disseminating the project’s findings, Efus and its partners organised four web conferences in 2025 on the following topics: - cybersecurity - the fight against crime and terrorism and the pilot project led by Efus in conjunction with the city of Mechelen (Belgium) - border management in relation to disaster management - societal resilience to disasters > Videos of these web conferences are available here ● Workshop in Marseille with Région Sud Represented by Anne Boisseau, Project Officer, Efus and the project partners took part in a workshop in Marseille (France) on 12 June, organised in collaboration with Région Sud. This meeting provided an opportunity to: - present the toolkit of citizen engagement which was developed as part of the project as well as the project’s activities and results; - discuss the importance of involving citizens in the development of security technologies and the methods for doing so; - explore the technological tools available in Région Sud to address the specific challenge of gender-based and sexual violence, and use the TRANSCEND toolkit to analyse them together.
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● Final event in Brussels in September The project partners, including Efus, gathered in Brussels on 10 September for the final event concluding three years of work. Efus presented the pilot project it carried out with the city of Mechelen (Belgium), where young residents were able to participate in shaping local crime and terrorism prevention policies using the participatory tools developed as part of the project. Efus also facilitated a roundtable discussion involving the Molenbeek police, the Dutch research institute DISSS and the project partners on youth engagement in local security policies. One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the TRANSCEND toolkit, which is one of the project’s main outcomes.
AI for Cities project This two-year project (2025–2026) aims to train 175 city officials and elected representatives from six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain) in fundamental Artificial Intelligence skills applied to urban security and innovation in the governance of European cities. This project is funded by the Center for Public Impact (CPI) with support from the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund. The training programme comprises four online sessions and one in-person session, all delivered in each country’s national language. Upon completion of the training, participants receive a certificate attesting to their new AI skills. Over the two-year duration of the project, seven cohorts will be trained: 2025: two sessions for French local authorities (March–April, October–November) and one session for Spanish local authorities (May–June). 2026: training sessions for local authorities in other countries (Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium). December 2026: final online conference to conclude the project. This programme is primarily aimed at professionals in security and crime prevention services — such as municipal police, civil protection and risk prevention — but it is also open to local and regional elected representatives. The diversity of participants (gender, region, role, etc.) is taken into account. Fully funded, there is no cost to participants. > Coordination for Efus Asma Kaouech (with the support of all the Efus technical team)
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AI for Cities 2025 activities ● Training programme in France and Spain In 2025, the programme was rolled out for French local and regional authorities (two sessions in the spring and one in the autumn), and for Spanish ones (in May-June). In 2026, the programme will be delivered to local and regional authorities in Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. In total, 75 people followed the training in 2025, and we expect to have about 100 for 2026. ● Web conference on AI for safer cities In December, Efus organised a web conference, AI for safer cities, which gathered about 60 participants. It featured a presentation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act by an official of the European Commission’s European AI Office, and testimonials from representatives of local and regional authorities who already had the AI for Cities training, such as Amsterdam and Barcelona. The session concluded with a prospective reflection on needs, recommendations and next steps. > More information on the AI for Cities page of our website
> Working group on Security & Innovation Established in 2018, the working group on Security & Innovation is a platform for the exchange of views and practices on innovative urban security strategies, whether based on the use of technologies or social innovation.
Organised Crime > Working group on the local roots and impacts of organised crime Efus is coordinating this working group presided by the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam (Netherlands). The group seeks to adapt local prevention policies to the characteristics of organised crime – in particular the fact that it is transnational – to curb the impact of illicit money flows on local security and public order; to develop adapted evaluation tools; to facilitate the transfer of promising practices among cities; to work on the impact of organised crime on European port cities and society at large, and to strengthen the prevention of human trafficking. 2025 activities on the topic of organised crime ● Exchange between the cities and ports of Le Havre and Rotterdam Efus organised an exchange between officials from the ports and cities of Le Havre (France) and Rotterdam (Netherlands) to discuss their initiatives to
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combat drug trafficking and promote prevention, particularly among young people. A field visit took place at the port of Rotterdam on 11–12 February, hosted by the Mayor of Rotterdam, Carola Schouten. Prior to this, a delegation from Rotterdam had visited Le Havre. As Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam is one of the main entry points for drugs into Europe (notably cocaine), which has consequences for social cohesion and security in the city. The city has adopted a comprehensive strategy based on prevention and enhanced controls. ● Meeting with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime Represented by Carla Napolano, Deputy Executive Director, Efus took part in a meeting of French experts from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime (GI-TOC) on 7 April in Paris. GI-TOC is a network of over 600 global and regional experts working to develop innovative strategies and responses to organised crime. The aim of the meeting was to identify and create synergies between the various networks and organisations working in this field. ● Webinar on the recruitment of young people by organised crime Efus co-organised with the Peace in Our Cities (PiOC) network a webinar on the recruitment of young people by organised crime and illicit markets on 16 October (online). Participants were able to discuss the experiences of the cities of Bogotá (Colombia), Edmonton (Canada), Lille (France) and Tilburg (Netherlands). ● Efus on the advisory committee for an EUCPN project on the administrative approach Efus is a member of the advisory committee of a project led by the European Union Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) aimed at supporting crime prevention professionals through an evidence-based approach and the administrative approach to combating organised crime. The project is developing three toolkits: one focused on preventing recruitment into organised crime, another on the administrative approach (which aims to prevent organised criminal groups from infiltrating public administrations), and a third on the design of evidence-based interventions. The role of the committee members is to share their experiences and create synergies with the activities of their own networks. On 14 October 2025 in Brussels, Efus took part in the first meeting of the Advisory Group organised with the EUCPN secretariat to help develop the content of the three toolkits. It was attended by Karin Wilschut from the City of Amsterdam, Sheila Adjiembaks, a criminologist, Monica Usai from the
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Libera association, Francesco Calderoni, a criminologist, and Karin Svanberg from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (BRÅ).
Drugs Coalition of the willing: European cities and regions against drug-related violence and trafficking To effectively fight drug-related violence, major investment in resilience and prevention is crucial. This means supporting individuals and groups, educating them about risky behaviour, and protecting our businesses and cities from the clutches of organised crime. It is precisely in this area of prevention that local and regional authorities have a key role to play, in complementarity with law enforcement action. Many of them are already developing comprehensive, innovative and effective local strategies to prevent and combat crime. These initiatives demonstrate the potential of local solutions to the challenges posed by drugs and trafficking. > Objective Led by Efus, the Coalition of the willing - against drug-related violence and trafficking gathers European local and regional authorities that are engaged in preventing this type of violence, and lobbies national governments and European institutions on the need to locally and financially support local prevention. > More information on our website’s Coalition of the willing page > The resolution adopted by Efus’ Executive Committee (December 2024) Coalition of the willing 2025 activities ● Establishment and promotion of the Coalition In the course of 2025, Efus regularly informed the network about the Coalition and gathered member local and regional authorities as well as partners around this project. We also shared inspiring practices and assembled all relevant stakeholders. A first step in our communications efforts was the creation of the dedicated page on our website.
> European project CAPABLE (Cooperation and Partnership for Building Local Expertise on Drug-related Challenges) Efus designed and leads this project funded through the European Commission’s Erasmus programme. It started in December 2025. > Objectives
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The project seeks to strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders, local police officers, cities’ drug prevention services, and social and youth workers to respond to drug use and trafficking among young people. Following an integrated approach combining public heath, prevention and security, CAPABLE seeks to provide professionals with up to date knowledge, practical skills and transferable tools in order to design prevention, intervention, and harm reduction strategies that are adapted to local contexts. > Activities The main activities include the co-creation of a flexible training programme, the organisation of pilot sessions in four European countries based on the ‘train the trainers’ approach, the production of multilingual teaching materials (guides, podcasts, videos), as well as communication, dissemination and advocacy activities to ensure the sustainability and transferability of the results. > Partners The project is coordinated by Efus in partnership with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC), the Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN), and the University of Ghent (Belgium). > Associate partners Four cities are associated in the project: Cali (Colombia), Ghent (Belgium), Lisbon (Portugal) and Rotterdam (Netherlands). They will share their promising practices and take part in activities of co-creation and evaluation of the tools that will be developed through the project. > Coordination for Efus Anne Boisseau and Pilar De La Torre > Duration December 2025 – December 2027 (24 months) > Budget 400,000€ - 100% funded by the European Commission CAPABLE 2025 activities ● Kick-off meeting On 16 December, Efus and the project partners took part in the (online) kickoff meeting. In this first session, they worked on defining the project’s key message and visual identity. > More information on the CAPABLE page of our website
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Other 2025 activities on the topic of drugs This area of work, which is linked to that of organised crime, remains a priority for many Efus member cities. It is an area on which Efus is constantly working. ● Efus at a conference in Bordeaux on preventing drug consumption and trafficking among young people Elizabeth Johnston, Efus Executive Director, took part in a conference organised in Bordeaux on preventing drug consumption and trafficking among young people, which was organised in June by the Bordeaux City Council (which is President of the French Forum for Urban Security). The objective was to design responses through a cross-cutting approach combining prevention, health, the Justice system, education and law enforcement. ● Efus joins the advisory committee for a training project led by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) Represented by Carla Napolano, Deputy Executive Director, Efus is a member of the advisory committee for a project that aims to strengthen the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) online learning platform in four areas: project management, communication, educational support and technical development. The first two meetings of this advisory committee focused on motivation in learning, the balance between guided courses and self-study, recognition through micro-certifications, cultural adaptation of content, revitalisation of online communities, and the use of inclusive and respectful language.
Polarisation & Radicalisation > European projects OSPREY (Online Safety and Security for the Protection of Public-Facing Professionals and Democratic Resilience) This project, led by Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom), began on 1st December 2025. > Objectives The project aims to better understand the threats faced by professionals and organisations working on security issues who are in contact with the public in the digital space (security professionals, journalists, elected representatives, etc.) and to better protect them.
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> Activities The OSPREY partners will build a knowledge base on the risks faced by these organisations and professionals, as well as on the modus operandi and motivations of attackers. In addition, they will develop AI tools, mechanisms and solutions to improve their safety in the digital space. Finally, they will develop toolkits and training programmes to improve understanding of these professionals and organisations, particularly among legislators, and to raise public awareness. > Partners Lead: Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research (Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom) Partners in addition to Efus: Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (Greece), Cybercrime Research Institute (Germany), Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands), Ministry of the Interior of Finland, Ministry of the Interior and Overseas Territories (France), Global Cyber Alliance, UK Home Office (United Kingdom), Institute of Communication & Computer Systems (Greece), Lisbon City Council (Portugal), Malta Police Force (Malta), McMaster University (Canada), Police Scotland (United Kingdom), Vicomtech (Spain), Victim Support Europe, CyberPeace Institute (Switzerland). > Coordination for Efus Asma Kaouech and Moumtaez Ben Mabrouk > Duration December 2025 – November 2028 > Budget €3 million – 100% funded by the European Commission (€174,750.00 Efus share) > More information on the OSPREY page of our website
PARTESS-COM (Participatory approaches to protecting places of worship, schools, and community centres) Efus is a partner in this new project led by the Austrian International Affairs Institute, which was launched in April. > Objective The project aims at protecting religious communities, places of worship, and associated institutions across the EU against threats posed by hate, extremism and disinformation, through a participatory approach. It combines a systematisation and evaluation of existing protection practices, a threat monitoring system, awareness-
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raising campaigns, and capacity-building for key actors. It delivers a multilingual digital platform and mobile application to support long-term knowledge exchange and access to resources. In doing so, PARTESS-COM strengthens coordination between public authorities and religious communities and contributes to a whole-ofsociety approach to protecting public spaces. > Efus’ role Efus will organise exchanges with religious communities, local and regional authorities, school managers and local and regional law enforcement agencies. It will also develop training programmes on the vulnerability of public spaces, crime prevention and crisis communication. > Partners Besides the Austrian International Affairs Institute and Efus, the project gathers 17 partners from 12 pays European countries: SCENOR (SCientia ENim ORbis terrarum) (Austria); LLInformatics (Poland), the Center for Security Studies (KEMEA) (Greece); Association des Militants du Savoir (MDS) (France); European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) (Netherlands); University of Lodz (Poland); Nodibinajums Latvijas evangeliski luteriskas Baznicas Diakonijas centrs (DLV) (Latvia); European Strategies Consulting (ESC) (Romania); Murcia Police (Spain); Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) (Italy); Eastern European Forum for Dialogue (BRIDGES) (Bulgaria); Vicariate General of the Archdiocese of Vienna (Erzdiözese Wien) (Austria); Dublin City Interfaith Forum (DCIF) (Ireland); Jüdisches Zentrum Synagoge Fraenkelufer (JZSF) (Germany); Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies (FUNDEA) (Spain); Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI) (Ireland); Violence Prevention Network (VPN) (Germany). > Coordination for Efus Anne Boisseau and Moumtaez Ben Mabrouk > Duration March 2025 - March 2027 (24 months) > Budget 2,242,195.5€ (157,867.80€ Efus share) - 90% funded by the European Commission > More information on the PARTESS-COM section of our website PARTESS-COM activities, June-October 2025 ● Round table with French stakeholders On 9 July, Efus organised an online round table with representatives of French religious communities and local authorities to discuss security
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practices in places of worship, share needs and experiences, and contribute to the development of effective solutions that respect religious beliefs for preventing hate crimes. Other activities on polarisation & radicalisation in 2025 ● EU Knowledge Hub on the prevention of radicalisation Efus was invited by the Knowledge Hub to take part in a workshop on 5-6 March in Malaga (Spain) on the importance for local authorities to have a strategic communication on the prevention of radicalisation leading to violence. Efus made a presentation and recommended inviting several members of the network to this event.
Police & Justice > European projects Efus was a partner in the now concluded PACTESUR 2 project on the protection of public spaces, whose main objective was to strengthen the capacities of local police forces (see below the Public spaces section). KOBAN (identifying future capabilities for community policing) Efus is a partner in this project led by the Netherlands police. > Objectives The KOBAN project seeks to strengthen the community policing approach among police forces with a perspective based on innovation, research, practices and evidence. More widely, the project seeks to strengthen trust and respect between police and the population, and to improve the efficiency of police. > Partners The project gathers, besides the Netherlands police and Efus, 15 partners from 12 countries: the Polish Platform for Homeland security; the Dutch organisation for research in applied science TNO (Netherlands); Ianus technologies (Cyprus); Saher (Estonia); the Hellas research and technology centre (Greece); the Vicomtech research centre (Spain); TLX (Timelex) law firm (Belgium); Finland’s Ministry of the Interior; the Radom provincial police (Poland); Valencia local police (Spain); municipality of Lisbon (Portugal); ISP Qualify Just (IT solutions and consulting IT) (Portugal); Rotterdam Erasmus University (Netherlands); Czech police; Brussels police (POLBRU) (Belgium). > Coordination for Efus Marta Pellón Brussosa, Anne Boisseau and Moumtaez Ben Mabrouk
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> Duration September 2024 – August 2027 (36 months) > Budget 3,626,353.75 € (190,500 € Efus share) – 100 % funded by the European Commission KOBAN 2025 activities ● Work meeting and field visit in Lisbon In November, Efus and the other project partners took part in a field visit to Lisbon to learn about the work of the local police. The discussions highlighted how the municipal police built over many years relations of trust with local stakeholders and residents. ● Workshop in Warsaw to prepare pilot projects In September, Efus participated in a workshop organised in Warsaw by the Polish Platform for Homeland Security to prepare the pilot projects that will be carried out as part of the project. ● Coordination meeting in Utrecht Represented by Marta Pellón Brussosa, Senior Programme Manager, Efus took part in the project’s coordination meeting organised in late April at the headquarters of the Utrecht police force (Netherlands). Participants exchanged on community policing and took part in several field visits in community centres, a centre for asylum seekers and the city’s first “smart” police station. ● Stakeholder workshop in Poznan In May, Anne Boisseau, Programme Manager, and the project partners met in Poznan (Poland) for a workshop on community policing, crime prevention and social prevention. The event gathered representatives of law enforcement agencies and other organisations.
EU-POLNET network Operating within Efus, EU-POLNET is a network whose aims are to develop European local police forces’ expertise and best practices through peer-to-peer exchanges, and to promote the role of local police in urban security at a European and international level. > Objectives ● To promote the role and doctrines of local police in urban security policies at European and international levels.
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● To organise training sessions and exchanges among local police officers and/or local police administrative staff by organising police academies in Efus member cities. ● To foster the exchange of best practices among local police forces by organising ‘Exchange Days’ and peer reviews on strategic and operational issues. ● To develop and coordinate partnerships between police forces and local crime prevention services (as well as with other local urban security stakeholders). > Key areas of work ● Making public spaces safer ● Police-population relations and community policing ● Diversity within local police forces ● Attractiveness of the profession (recruitment, training and retention) ● Links with all local non-police services involved in the security chain ● The role of local police in preventing crime and risky behaviour ● Technological innovation EU-POLNET 2025 activities ● Production of various information documents In 2025, Efus and the EU-POLNET partners produced a series of information to be shared with all members of this network: a concise description of all the police forces that are members of EU-POLNET, a general presentation brochures, a series of practice sheets and a video on the Madrid police diversity policy. Furthermore, Efus created an online shared drive for the network’s 36 (to date) members. > More on EU-POLNET > All interested Efus members are welcome to join the EU-POLNET network. Contact: eupolnet@efus.eu
Security-related professions > European project SafeSkills (Increasing Regional Availability of Skilled Labour in Safety and Security Sectors) Efus is a partner in this project funded by the European Commission’s Interreg programme and led by the Tampere Regional Council through Business Tampere, which started in May 2025.
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> Objective Ensure long-term availability of qualified personnel in the security and safety domain in European regions through the exchange among regions of inspiring practices and innovative solutions to improve regional’s training and skilldevelopment policies. SafeSkills addresses the critical need for skilled labor in the safety and security sectors and emphasizes their significance as economic and innovation policy priorities in European regions. In light of today's complex global security environment and ongoing crises, regional development and innovation policies are increasingly focusing on safety, security and societal resilience. This includes sectors such as smart secure societies, industrial safety, environmental safety, cybersecurity, and safety-related research, education and training. > Efus’ role Efus is an advisory partner. Efus will contribute to the analysis of local security policies, the identification of learning needs in public policy, and the study of regional security ecosystems. In line with the project's objectives, Efus actively participates in learning visits, the production of reports and summary sheets, and the dissemination of results. In addition, Efus will support partners in improving regional security policies. > Partners The project is coordinated by Business Tampere Ltd. (Finland). In addition to Efus, the partners are: Rzeszow Regional Development Agency (Poland); Région ProvenceAlpes-Côte d'Azur (France); Regional Development Agency of the Odessa Region (Ukraine); Barcelona City Council (Spain). Also involved in the project: Council of Tampere Region (Finland); Marshal's Office of the Podkarpackie Region (Poland). > Coordination for Efus Pilar De La Torre > Duration May 2025 - April 2029 > Budget Total 1,402,500€ - 100% funded by the European Commission (196,500€ Efus share)
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SafeSkills 2025 activities ● Kickoff meeting in Tampere Efus and the project partners participated in the project’s kickoff meeting held in July in Tampere, Finland. ● Production of a state of play analysis Efus produced a state of play analysis. It provides a comprehensive overview of current security and safety policy frameworks in each partner region, identifies learning needs, opportunities and challenges regarding skills in the safety and security sectors, maps the key actors, clusters, and ecosystems relevant for safety and security, and serves as a reference guide for the interregional learning process and future policy instruments. > More information on the SafeSkills section of our website
Public spaces > European project PACTESUR 2 (Protect Allied Cities against TErrorism in Securing Urban aReas) Efus was a partner in this project led by the city of Nice (France), which concluded in August 2025. It followed up on PACTESUR, which concluded in December 2022. > Objectives The main objective of PACTESUR 2 was to better protect public spaces by fostering the design and implementation of local promising practices. The main aspect of the project was to build the capacities of local police forces through high level training programmes and exchanges among different European local police forces. These exchanges followed the model of the Police Academies organised in the first PACTESUR. The project also sought to foster the participation of citizens in efforts to better protect urban public spaces as well as public-private cooperation. > Partners Besides Efus, the partners were the cities of Liège (Belgium), Madrid (Spain) and Turin (Italy) as well as the association of communes from the Italian Piedmont ANCI Piemonte. Furthermore, the project gathers 11 associated cities and their local police forces, which are coordinated by Efus: Bologna (Italy), Bratislava (Slovakia), Brussels Capital (through safe.brussels, the institution in charge of coordinating crime prevention and security in Brussels Capital) (Belgium), Budapest (7th district)
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(Hungary), Gdansk (Poland), Kordelio-Evosmos (Greece), Lisbon (Portugal), Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), Vilnius (Lithuania), and Xàbia (Spain). > Coordination for Efus Marta Pellón Brussosa > Duration September 2023 – August 2025 > Budget 1,907,842.10€ - 90% funded by the European Commission (312,718.20€ Efus share) PACTESUR2 2025 activities ● Final event in Gdańsk (Poland) The project’s final conference was held right after Efus’ 2025 general Assembly, on 17-18 June, in Gdańsk (Poland). It was hosted by Gdańsk’s Mayor, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, and Efus President and Mayor of Liège, Willy Demeyer. The consortium partners signed the Gdańsk Declaration on public-private cooperation, which expresses the commitment of European cities to promote an integrated and inclusive governance of urban security. ● Local police academy in Turin (Italy) A police academy was organised in Turin in June. As with the other police academies organised as part of PACTESUR2 (and the previous project, PACTESUR), the aim was to bring together representatives from various local police forces to exchange practices and experiences over the course of several days. Visit to the city of Kordelio Evosmos (Greece) A delegation of PACTESUR2 project partners, including the city of Nice (France), project coordinator and Efus vice-president, visited the municipal police force of the Greek city of Kordelio Evosmos on 6 March. On this occasion, representatives of the city of Nice also presented the work of Efus to representatives of another Greek city, Lamia. ● Workshop and field visit in Nice during the Carnival Efus and the project partners met in Nice (France) in February for a two-day visit session that included a workshop on the security continuum (i.e. the chain involving a large number of public and private stakeholders who must coordinate their security and prevention measures), a field visit to the
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Beltrame training centre for Nice’s security forces, and another visit of the security arrangements put in place for the Nice Carnival. > More information on the PACTESUR 2 section of our website Other 2025 activities on the topic of public spaces ● Seminar in Turin on young people and knives In parallel with the Efus Executive Committee meeting held in Turin (Italy) in October (see the Governance section below), the city of Turin organised a seminar on the use of knives by young people, a phenomenon that exhibits similar characteristics across Europe. Participants discussed the approaches and resources available to European local authorities to prevent and combat this phenomenon.
Mental health > European project Respect to Protect Efus is a partner in this project led by the Sorapán de Rieros Foundation, which aims to improve prevention and intervention in situations involving people with mental health problems, and to support the mental health and well-being of first line practitioners. > Objectives The aim of the Respect to Protect project is to develop a training programme for stakeholders working in security and crime prevention, such as law enforcement officers, mediators and health and social care professionals. The project seeks to provide better intervention and support for people with mental health problems, and to enhance the mental well-being of those involved in security and crime prevention, so that they can carry out their duties more effectively. > Partners In addition to Efus, the project brings together six partners from three countries (Spain, Italy and Poland): Polish Platform for Homeland Security (Poland); Fondazione Progetto Itaca (ETS, Italy); Entro Italiano per l'Apprendimento Permanente (CIAPE, Italy), and Innovate Consultoría de Ayudas Públicas S.L (Spain). > Associated partners ISEM Network (Spanish Platform of Entities for the Promotion and Social Inclusion of People with Mental Illness); Extremadura Mental Health Network (Spain); Polish Law Enforcement Agencies; Italian National Autonomous Union of Vigilance Efus 2025 activity report - page 23 of 35 -
Workers (SINALV, Italy); Civil defence of the Abruzzo region (Italy); Associations within the Progetto Itaca network; Mental health platform of the municipality of Milan; French Forum for Urban Security (FFSU); Belgian Forum for Urban Security (BeFUS); First aid in mental health France. > Expert Committee Efus has set up an expert committee comprising professionals from Belgium, Canada and France: Bénédicte Biron, Head of the ‘Security’ Division, Prevention Department, City of Liège (Belgium); Frédérique Haleng, Senior Project Officer at the Operational Directorate for Public Services of the Liège Local Police (Belgium); Jean-Michel Paquay, Director – Operational Directorate for Public Services of the Liège Local Police (Belgium); Christian Tesson, Chief Superintendent – Director of Strategy, Finance and Innovation, Liège Local Police (Belgium); Chris Vandenhaute, Police Inspector, Brussels Capital Police Ixelles (Belgium); Francis Bernier, Head of the Multidisciplinary Social Intervention Section, Prevention and Urban Security Division, Montreal Police (Canada); Sonia Chaparoff and Fanny Pastant, National Coordinators of the Local Mental Health Councils (France); Laurent Giraud, Director of France Médiation (France); David Mourgues, anthropologist, Regional Mental Health Project Manager for the Lot-et-Garonne department (France). > Coordination for Efus Marta Pellón Brussosa, Bamba Niang and Vanina Porruncini-Hallab (FFSU) > Duration December 2024 - December 2026 > Budget 250,000€ funded by the European Commission (€42,860 Efus share) > More information on the Respect to Protect section of our website Respect to Protect 2025 activities ● Production of a training programme Efus took part in the production of an online and in-person training programme, which was presented to the project consortium in Valencia (Spain), on 21-22 October. During the production phase, Efus organised in July a co-production workshop jointly with the France Médiation association and one of the managers of the Lot et Garonne Mental Health Plan (the anthropologist David Mourgues). A dozen representatives of French and Belgian local authorities took part in this workshop. The partners then exchanged throughout September to finalise the training programme.
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● Social media communication campaign On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, Efus ran a weeklong social media campaign to promote the importance of mental health in social cohesion and crime prevention. Efus highlighted its participation in the Respect to Protect project. ● Workshop to identify training needs On 9 June, Efus and the Forum Français pour la Sécurité Urbaine (FFSU) organised an online workshop to identify the training needs of security and crime prevention professionals in two areas: 1) prevention, crisis intervention and interaction with people with mental health problems; 2) the mental wellbeing of security and prevention professionals.
Calls for European projects Throughout the year, Efus monitors the European Union’s calls for projects and submits applications for projects related to its areas of work, for which it gathers partners from all over Europe: member local and regional authorities, public bodies, research institutes, universities, other networks, and private sector companies. Similarly, Efus is regularly asked to participate in EU-funded projects led by other networks and organisations
Projects selected in 2025 Efus leads and/or is a partner in six new projects that were selected for European funding in 2025 : ● AI for Cities (see above section Innovation & Technologies) ● CAPABLE (see above section Drugs) ● DARE (see above section Crisis management) ● SafeSkills (see above section Security-related professions) ● OSPREY (see above section Polarisation & Radicalisation) ● PARTESS-COM (see above section Polarisation & Radicalisation) ● Respect to Protect (see above section Mental health) > Networking Efus at a meeting of practitioners and innovators organised by the Île de France Region Represented by Pilar De La Torre, Project Development Manager, and Lauranne Homyrda, European Projects Officer, Efus took part in the SMI2G networking event organised by the Île de France Regional Council in Paris on 6-7 May. This annual event brings together innovators and practitioners from across Europe who are looking for other consortium partners as part of Horizon Europe's ‘Civil Security for Efus 2025 activity report - page 25 of 35 -
Society 2025’ work programme. The event gave Efus the opportunity to meet potential partners and explore synergies for setting up collaborative projects under Horizon Europe - Cluster 3 calls, particularly in the fight against crime and terrorism, disaster risk and citizen participation. > For more information on opportunities to participate in European projects, please contact Pilar De La Torre : delatorre@urbansecurity.org and/or Carlo Bettini : bettini@urbansecurity.org
2. The network Efus grows and new members join the network each year. They represent European local and regional authorities’ geographical and political diversity. Fourteen new members and partners joined Efus in 2025: city of Bilbao (Spain), city of Campobasso (Italy), Crime Prevention Council of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) (Germany), city of Clermont-l’Hérault (France), city of Dortmund (Germany), city of Dudelange (Luxembourg), city of Etterbeek (Belgium), city of Flensburg (Germany), the city of Kaiserslautern (Germany), the Lazio region (Italy), city of Murcia (Spain), city of Sassari (Italy), city of Verona (Italy), and city of Zitsa (Greece). The city of Moreno (Argentina) and the Odessa Region (Ukraine) have joined as partners.
3. Efus’ ecosystem As an association of local and regional authorities, Efus promotes the co-production of urban security policies and works in partnership with a wide network of actors: European and international institutions, universities, associations, private sector… This ecosystem, which has grown over more than 35 years, fosters the exchange of ideas and practices across Europe and the world. National Forums for Urban Security The Belgian, German, French, Italian and Spanish Forums bring together Efus members in these countries and participate in Efus’ activities at their national level. > For more information on the national forums and their activities: ● German and European Forum for Urban Security (DEFUS) Website: www.defus.de Manager: Ana Rau
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● Belgian Forum for Urban Security (BeFUS) Website: www.befus.be Manager: Laetitia Nolet ● Spanish Forum for Prevention and Urban Security (FEPSU) Website: www.fepsu.es Manager: Angels Vila Muntal ● French Forum for Urban Security (FFSU) Website: www.ffsu.org Manager: Elizabeth Johnston ● Italian Forum for Urban Security (FISU) Website: www.fisu.it Managers: Gian Guido Nobili and Sara Paci > European Union & International ● Meetings with the European Commissioner for Innovation In December, Elizabeth Johnston, Executive Director, accompanied the President of Efus and Mayor of Liège, Willy Demeyer, for a meeting with the European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, who oversees the funding of Horizon Europe action research projects. The meeting focused on ways to strengthen not only technological but also social innovation within European local and regional authorities with the support of the EU. ● Efus consulted by the European Committee of the Regions Efus was one of the civil society organisations consulted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in preparation for an opinion on the European Union’s new security strategy, entitled ProtectEU. In this capacity, Elizabeth Johnston, Executive Director, travelled to Brussels on 1 October for a meeting with Béatrice Taulegne, from the CoR’s Legislative Affairs Directorate. The Committee of the Regions is the most relevant institutional partner for strengthening the influence and participation of cities in the strategies developed by the European Union, particularly given the limitations encountered when directly approaching European institutions. ● Meeting with the Mayor of San Joaquín (Chile) As part of Efus’ institutional exchanges, Pilar De la Torre, Project Development Manager, met with the Mayor of San Joaquín (Chile), who is also responsible for international relations at the Chilean Association of Municipalities (ACHM according to the Spanish acronym) and founder of the
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Association of Municipalities for Security in Chile. The municipality of San Joaquín (90,000 inhabitants), located south of the capital Santiago, wishes to join Efus as a partner and to exchange on the prevention of juvenile delinquency. ● Meeting with the German government’s international cooperation agency In August, Efus met with representatives of the German government's international cooperation agency (GIZ according to the German acronym) in Central America and representatives of the Central American Social Integration System (SISCA), a regional body that coordinates social policies among member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA). These institutions wish to exchange with Efus member organisations on the prevention of juvenile delinquency, mental health and the participatory renovation of public spaces. One of the results of these exchanges was the production of two practice sheets, which were distributed with the Efus newsletter and made available to members in the Member Space drive. ● Meeting with UN-Tourism on the issue of safety in tourism destinations Asma Kaouech, Senior Programme Manager, and Carla Napolano, Deputy Executive Director, met with representatives of UN-Tourism to examine potential collaboration as part of the UN’s Safety of Destinations (SAFE-D) Initiative, which aims to to strengthen crisis preparedness, response and recovery in destinations worldwide. They expressed interest in Efus' expertise in public space security and crisis management, as well as in our publications on tourism and security and on nightlife. Possible avenues for collaboration include incorporating Efus publications into their resource platform for members (mainly governments), jointly organising a webinar on security and tourism, and distributing a call for applications for the SAFE-D programme to our members. ● Meeting with the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities During the summer, Elizabeth Johnston and Asma Kaouech met with representatives of the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities (CCFSC). They were interested in the BRIDGE project (2019-2021) on polarisation, in particular polarisation audits and the project’s evaluation. We also discussed the continuation of the Urban Safety Monitor project at international level. The CCSF will hold its annual conference in November and has invited Efus to participate in panel discussions.
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● Meeting at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Home Affairs Elizabeth Johnston, Executive Director, and Carla Napolano, Deputy Executive Director, met Floriana Sipala, head of the Organised Crime and Drugs Unit of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Home Affairs and Migration (DG HOME), and Jo de Cock, head of Unit 2 Organised Crime, in Brussels on 18 March to explore how the Commission could support for the Coalition of Cities on Drugs initiative. The Commission cannot provide financial support, but has offered to invite European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner to the Efus GA 2025 in Gdańsk (17-18 June). Elizabeth Johnston and Carla Napolano also met members of the cabinet of the Justice and Consumers Commission (JUST) in June to present Efus. ● Fundamental Rights Platform Represented by Carla Napolano, Efus took part on 14 and 18–19 November in a meeting organised by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the annual meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform. On this occasion, Efus issued a Declaration welcoming the adoption, on 12 November, of the new European strategy for civil society and its importance for strengthening democratic values. Efus is also an active member of the Fundamental Rights Platform, contributing to exchanges and cooperation with civil society actors. ● Meeting with officials from the Council of Europe's Digital Citizenship Education Department On 20 May, Carla Napolano and representatives of the city of Strasbourg met with officials from the Council of Europe's Digital Citizenship Education department in Strasbourg. 2025 is the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education. The Council of Europe is considering working with Efus on this issue, which could lead to the organisation of a webinar in September. > Partnerships ● New partner local authority in Argentina As part of its efforts to expand beyond the European Union, Efus has welcomed a new partner local authority in Argentina: the city of Moreno. ● Memorandum of Understanding with the Odessa region in Ukraine At the request of Efus’ Executive Committee and as an expression of solidarity with the cities and regions of Ukraine, Efus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Odessa region.
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● Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Peace in Our Cities (PiOC) PiOC is a global network of mayors, city leaders, civil society organisations and representatives of international organisations and urban networks working to reduce urban violence and promote peaceful, just and inclusive cities. Efus and PiOC will explore synergies between the two networks, which share the same field of activity and the same values. As part of this collaboration, the two networks have agreed to jointly organise two webinars a year on topics of mutual interest. As such, a webinar on the recruitment of young people into organised crime was held on 16 October (see Organised Crime section above). ● Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the LUCI network (Lighting Urban Communities International) Represented by Elizabeth Johnston, Executive Director, Efus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the LUCI network, which brings together local authorities around the world that are committed to using public lighting, and light more generally, to promote social, cultural and economic development. Together, Efus and LUCI will explore how lighting can be used to enhance urban safety.
4. Development Innovation Studio for Urban Security and Corporate Network by Efus The Innovation Studio and Corporate Network by Efus support local authorities and private sector stakeholders in designing innovative, people-centred solutions tailored to the new challenges of urban safety. This initiative is based on a key principle for Efus: safer, more inclusive and resilient cities must be built through strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. In this sense, urban safety is not merely a matter of public policy but also a strategic priority for private companies. The Innovation Studio offers tailored support to local authorities and businesses: training, expert advice and practical tools to develop and roll out solutions rooted in local realities. The Corporate Network offers companies an annual membership giving them access to greater visibility, networking opportunities with cities and elected representatives, priority participation in Efus events, as well as forward-looking analyses of security trends and a better understanding of their clients’ needs.
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> Coordination for Efus Asma Kaouech and Moumtaez Ben Mabrouk
Corporate Network by Efus 2025 activities ● Efus at the French Mayors’ Fair and the Milipol Security Fair in Paris In December, Efus attended in Paris the Mayors and Local Authorities Exhibition (Salon des maires, SMCL), which brings together over 13,000 exhibitors and 65,000 visitors, and the Milipol Paris security fair to meet its partners and present its recent work in the fields of urban security and innovation.
5. Security, Democracy and Cities conference and manifesto The international and interdisciplinary Security, Democracy and Cities conference is organised by the European Forum for Urban Security every three years. Unique in its field, this event is intended for all urban security stakeholders: elected officials, civil servants, national administrations, magistrates, law enforcement agencies, social workers, researchers, and representatives of the private sector and civil society. ● Preparing the Security, Democracy and Cities 2027 conference The Efus team is already working on the organisation of the next conference, which will take place in 2027, coinciding with Efus’ 40th anniversary (it was founded in 1987). The host city for the next conference will be announced over the course of 2026. The manifesto The Security, Democracy and Cities manifesto of the European Forum for Urban Security (Efus) expresses the principles on which we have based our action since our foundation in 1987. It includes a political declaration on our shared vision of urban security, as well as a comprehensive set of practical recommendations on 18 urban security issues. The manifesto is a reference for our members and a roadmap they can use to guide their local policies and actions over the next five to ten years. The 2025 version of the manifesto was developed following our Security, Democracy and Cities conference in Brussels (Belgium) in March 2024. It is an update of previous manifestos resulting from the Security, Democracy and Cities conferences in Nice (France) in 2021, Barcelona and Catalonia (Spain) in 2017, Aubervilliers and Efus 2025 activity report - page 31 of 35 -
Saint-Denis (France) in 2012, Zaragoza (Spain) in 2006, and Naples (Italy) in 2000. > The manifesto is available to read on the website here in English and in French. > Efus members can download the manifesto from the Members'Area here.
6. Governance and structure ● Executive Committee meetings in 2025 Efus’ Executive Committee met twice in 2025 : on 27 May (online) to prepare the 17 June General Assembly in Gdańsk (Poland) and on 22 October in Turin Turin (Italy) for a discussion about the Coalition of the willing - against drugrelated violence and trafficking, Corporate by Efus, and development. ● Extraordinary General Meeting to update the association’s statutes From 22 to 26 September, members were called to vote at an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA). The purpose of this EGA was to update the statutes and administrative documents to reflect Efus' new headquarter location (4, place de la République in Saint-Ouen) and to increase the number of vicepresidents to five. The aim is to include an Eastern European city in the vicepresidency of Efus, in accordance with the decision taken at the 2025 General Assembly held in Gdańsk (Poland).
> Communications ● Newsletter: significant increase in open rates Efus’s monthly newsletter is one of its main external communication tools: it enables us to stay in regular contact with our members and partners, provide information about our activities, and reaffirm our positions on key urban security issues and debates. In 2025, we gradually modernised it with shorter, more impactful content and a simple, effective design. Since July, the newsletter has been sent to nearly 16,000 contacts, compared to around 12,000 previously. The open rate (the number of people who open their email) has risen significantly by 40% compared to June. It has stabilised at around 20–22% per issue, a figure in line with the average for non-governmental organisations in Europe. On average, around 3,500 people have opened the newsletter each month since July, compared to 2,500 previously. > All issues of the Efus newsletter are available on the website here ● Growth in the number of followers on LinkedIn Efus 2025 activity report - page 32 of 35 -
LinkedIn is the main social media platform on which we communicate: we post updates on our activities and projects several times a week. By the end of 2025, we were approaching the 5,000-follower mark, which is a satisfactory result. In 2025, we cancelled our Efus account on X (formerly Twitter). We took this decision due to the increasingly extremist and violent content on this platform, as have many non-governmental organisations in Europe and elsewhere in the world. We have replaced X with Bluesky. ● New episodes on Efus’ podcast channel Six new episodes were broadcast on Efus’ podcast channel in 2025: - Empowering youth, strengthening trust: Lisbon’s approach to urban security - Safe Riga: Innovating community policing to better meet citizen needs - Tackling organised crime through dialogue: The Spaanse Polder Café in Rotterdam - Dans les coulisses de la sécurité du Carnaval de Nice - Perception of local police across Europe: views from the inside (en anglais) - Police, sécurité privée, citoyens : le continuum de sécurité en action > Efus’ podcast episodes are available on our podcast channel and on the following platforms: YouTube, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts ● Strengthening Efus’ communications strategy With the aim of increasing Efus' visibility and audience, we are continuing our strategic reflection together with Laurence Comminette, head of communications for the City of Liège, and Julien Roirant, a consultant specialising in political communication with whom we have had a longstanding working relation. The main projects currently underway are to gradually modernise the website, strengthen and improve our social media communication, notably through training our technical team, grow the audience of our Safer Together LinkedIn group, and increase the reach of our monthly newsletter. ● Creation of the Safer Together group on LinkedIn With the aim of creating a space where members and anyone interested in urban security can come together to debate and exchange ideas, we have created a LinkedIn group entitled Safer Together. Launched at the beginning of the year, Safer Together has 139 members (at the time of finalising this document). We are striving to keep the conversation alive on this group, with
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the aim of increasing its reach among our members and wider public. ● Creation of a Members' Area (shared drive) In addition to Safer Together, we have created an online shared drive reserved for members, where they will eventually be able to find and download all our publications, practice sheets, the manifesto, the activity report and any other document intended to be shared with them. Our aim is to have transferred all these documents to this new drive by the end of 2025. ● Modernising the website During the first half of the year, we continued the gradual modernisation of the website, which is Efus' institutional showcase for our members, partners and anyone interested in urban security issues. The aim is to make the site more user-friendly and attractive without embarking on a major and costly overhaul. One of the main new features in the first half of the year was the creation of a new members' page, which is visually more attractive and easier to navigate.
> Central office and technical team ● A new central office in Saint-Ouen The Efus technical team moved in July to Efus’ new office in Saint-Ouen, near Paris. We share this office with two other third sector associations: France Médiation and Inter-Réseaux des Professionnels du Développement Social Urbain (Inter-Network of Urban Social Development Professionals, IRDSU). This move allows us to reduce our overhead costs and to work in better conditions. ● The Efus team: multidisciplinary and multicultural The technical team comprises around fifteen staff members, all of whom are multilingual and come from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Most have completed higher education in the fields of law, international relations, political science, sociology, or other social sciences. Some members of the accounting and administrative team also work for the French Forum for Urban Security. > Information technologies and data management ● Team training on AI tools The whole technical team has completed the AI for Cities programme (see the Innovation & Technology section above), which seeks to equip European local and regional authorities with knowledge of artificial intelligence applied to urban security. This theoretical and practical training enabled the team to get
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acquainted with the main AI tools they will increasingly be required to use in their day-to-day work and in their role supporting local authorities. ● Modernisation of the accounting infrastructure Efus modernised its accounting infrastructure by replacing legacy systems with integrated, future-proof solutions. This transition leverages automation and artificial intelligence technologies to improve data reliability and reduce manual tasks. This operational transformation creates a solid foundation to support Efus’s growth and core missions.
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European Forum for Urban Security (Efus) 4, place de la République 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine tel +33 (0) 1 40 64 49 00 contact@efus.eu