About CoESS

Introduction

CoESS has been founded in 1989 by a joint initiative of several national associations of private security companies belonging to EU Member States. From its start, CoESS has therefore been a European umbrella organisation for national private security associations. This form of affiliation remains CoESS' major objective and has recently been confirmed in the newly adopted Statutes (CoESS' Extraordinary General Assembly, Istanbul 27 September 2002, revised Stockholm September 2006).

From the early years of its existence on, CoESS has focused on the European Social Dialogue, through the establishment of very constructive contacts with the European trade Union UNI-Europa (formerly UNI-Europa) and through the recognition, by the European Commission, as an European sectoral social partner, in accordance with the European Treaties. Until now, the major activities and results have been achieved by CoESS through the European Social Dialogue.

CoESS has recently reorganised its structure, functioning and ways of representation. The objective of this reorganisation is to allow CoESS to expand and become more active in an horizontal way and in a vertical way. The European Social Dialogue will remain important but other fields of actions will be opened. As for its vertical development, CoESS has the mission to become the sole and unique European organisation representing all European countries (EU, candidate countries and non-EU), all branches of the industry (guarding, CIT, monitoring and airport security), through representative, well-functioning and active national associations.