Czechia wants to make it possible for other European Union/European Economic Area citizens to become members of the police and other security forces.
The proposal to make this change has been put forward by the Ministry of Interior of Czechia, with the aim of diversifying the police and security forces members, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
While Czechia is planning to make it simpler for other EU/EEA citizens to apply for such positions, not everyone is eligible to apply.
In line with the proposal, only EU/EEA citizens who have been legally residing in Czechia for a minimum period of three years and who are proficient in the Czech language will be eligible to apply to become police and other security officers members.
Citizens of other EU and EEA countries will also be able to become members of the security forces if they have lived in the Czech Republic for at least three years and speak the Czech language.
However, the Ministry has emphasised that the change in the rules will not extend to intelligence services. This is because the country wants to maintain strict requirements for these roles, Česká Justice explains.
EU/EEA Citizens Need to Submit Several Other Proof to Take Police & Security Forces Positions
As outlined in the proposal, in addition to submitting proof of having lived in Czechia for at least three years and language proficiency, other EU/EEA citizens who want to become members of the police and other security forces must meet several other conditions.
In case the proposal is approved, the EU/EEA applicants need to prove that they have no criminal records in their country of origin.
In addition, the proposal sets out that the EU/EEA applicants meet the criteria of integrity. Candidates are evaluated on their stance on different aspects of human rights and freedoms, among others.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the aim of this amendment is to modernise the country’s current laws. Moreover, it has been noted that the amendment will significantly simplify the application rules for other EU/EEA citizens.
The aim of the amendment is to modernise the law, which has undergone only a minimum of significant changes since its adoption, and thus to simplify its application in practice.
The authorities have further explained that certain positions may be reserved for Czech citizens only. Directors of the police and other security forces will be able to determine which roles can be filled by foreigners.
On the other hand, for some other positions, it will be needed to obtain Czech citizenship.
The proposal of the Ministry is currency in the comment process. If passed, its implementation could mark a significant shift in the composition of Czechia’s security forces, reflecting the country’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
