From 28 to 30 October 2026, ENLETS National Contact Points met in Limerick, Ireland, to exchange experiences and discuss critical communications, cross-border police cooperation, emerging technologies and innovative approaches to public safety.

Sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences and learning from one another are at the heart of ENLETS. The recent National Contact Point (NCP) Meeting in Limerick brought together representatives from across Europe to discuss common challenges and explore practical solutions.

Organised under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the event was opened by Assistant Commissioner Eileen Foster and Tim Willoughby, ENLETS National Contact Point for Ireland. Alongside presentations and discussions on current technological developments, participants reviewed the network's recent achievements and considered priorities for future cooperation. With ENLETS 3.0 approaching its conclusion, the meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on the network's progress and identify areas worth exploring in its future activities.

Critical communications and digital transformation

The European Critical Communication System (EUCCS) was a central topic of the meeting. Participants explored developments in critical communications and learned about Ireland's experience in strengthening communication systems for public services.

Jim Leahy from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer presented an initiative focused on testing resilient communication systems for public services in Ireland. His presentation highlighted efforts to improve the reliability and effectiveness of communications in critical situations.

Tim Willoughby also introduced An Garda Síochána's ongoing digital modernisation efforts. These include greater use of digital technologies and data, as well as the introduction of smart, secure mobile devices to support police officers in their daily work and improve the responsiveness of police services.

Another important topic was cross-border police cooperation. Participants discussed the use of ENLETS Messenger by the Netherlands Police and police forces in neighbouring countries, demonstrating how digital tools can support secure information exchange and operational cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

Other initiatives presented during the meeting

The programme also covered a range of initiatives addressing operational challenges, public safety and the use of emerging technologies.

• Community Access Support Team (CAST) – Participants learned about this Limerick-based initiative, which focuses on early intervention, de-escalation, clinical assessment and access to specialist care for people experiencing crises. Thanks to introducing clinical expertise, closer collaboration with other agencies, and a more proactive approach that included follow-ups and callbacks, the initiative helped reduce the number of interventions among people in crisis.
• Project HOPLITE – The project was presented as an initiative supporting law enforcement agencies through real-time online threat detection and intelligence sharing. Participants were introduced to its objectives and the technological approaches being developed to help identify and respond to threats in the digital environment.
• Presentation from Romanian Protection and Guard Service – introducing the organisation, its activities and areas of interest. The representative proposed introducing protection of public figures to ENLETS’ thematic scope.
• AI strategy for LEAs – presentation of information about the current state of play regarding the use of AI by LEAs; plan for organising workshop on AI for police technical experts.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to present several European projects and initiatives, including COURAGEOUS², DETECTOR, GANNDALF, and Cybersecure Mission. ENLETS aims to strengthen cooperation with such initiatives by promoting their activities among network members and actively exploring opportunities for joint actions in areas of shared interest.

The meeting once again highlighted the value of sharing knowledge and practical experience across the ENLETS network, as well as learning from other EU-supported initiatives. Such exchanges remain an important part of the network's activities, bringing together practitioners from different countries to discuss common challenges and explore solutions.

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