The Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) of the Council of Europe, based in Bucharest, is celebrating its 12th anniversary this month. To mark the occasion, a meeting was held in Bucharest on 21 April 2026, with representatives of the diplomatic community, international organisations, and Romanian criminal justice authorities responsible for combating cybercrime. The event served as a platform for exchanging views on challenges and trends in the field of cybercrime and related issues. At the same time, the meeting provided a framework for analysing opportunities for co-operation and for encouraging collaboration with the diplomatic community, government agencies, and law enforcement to share resources, expertise, and best practices.
The event was hosted by the National Institute of Magistracy (INM) and brought together more than 110 participants, representatives of the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Romanian Police, the National Directorate for Cyber Security (DNSC), the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), the Bucharest Court of Appeal, the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Court of Appeal, the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Tribunal, the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the European Commission Representation in Romania, the European Centre of Competence in Cybersecurity (ECCC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank.
“We were honoured to host at the National Institute of Magistracy (INM) the workshop organised by the Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Programme Office to mark the 12th anniversary of co-operation in the fight against cybercrime. As part of its training activities, particularly in the context of continuing education for magistrates, the INM places special emphasis on combating cybercrime, a topic that is included annually in the Continuing Education Program. Furthermore, starting in 2025, the INM, together with the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, is implementing a Swiss-funded project aimed at developing the judicial system’s capacity to combat cybercrime, within which we will organise a series of seminars and develop methodologies and e-learning modules. Therefore, for us, this event is not merely a formality but also a training initiative designed to address the training needs of judges and prosecutors.”, stated Marian Truşcă, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Magistracy of Romania, during the event’s opening session.
“C-PROC became operational in April 2014 and has since supported well over 2,700 activities for more than 140 countries across all regions of the world. This extensive engagement has led to a significant increase in the number of investigators, prosecutors, and judges who are better trained and equipped to handle cybercrime and electronic evidence. As a result, the rule of law and the effectiveness of criminal justice responses have been strengthened in numerous member states and partner countries. All these achievements have been underpinned by a shared commitment to uphold human rights and the rule of law in cyberspace. As we reflect on the progress made, we must also remain forward-looking, addressing emerging challenges such as the misuse of new technologies and the evolving nature of digital evidence.” said Matthias Kloth, Head of Digital Governance and Sport Department at the Council of Europe.
Among the topics discussed were capacity building in the field of cybercrime, enhanced co-operation and the disclosure of electronic evidence (Second Additional Protocol), disinformation and foreign interference in elections, and online violence – impact, accountability, and resilience in the digital age, some of the areas of interest for the work carried out by the Council of Europe’s team in Bucharest.
The meeting facilitated an exchange of views on current challenges and possible solutions, outlining new avenues for co-operation between the Council of Europe (through C-PROC) and the Romanian authorities.
The Council of Europe is the largest human rights organisation on the continent. Since its founding in 1949, the organisation has created a common legal space, centered on the European Convention on Human Rights, across all 46 member states, for over 700 million people. The Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), signed in Budapest on 23 November 2001, currently has 97 states, 81 of which are Parties, 2 are signatories, and 14 have been invited to accede.
Council of Europe: Action on cybercrime
Council of Europe: Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC)
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