The General Assembly represents the principal plenary body of COLPOFER and serves as a cornerstone of its governance, coordination, and communication framework. It provides a high-level platform for structured dialogue among members, enabling the alignment of strategic priorities and the collective examination of key security challenges affecting the European railway system. As a central forum for exchange, the General Assembly plays a decisive role in reinforcing cohesion across the network, supporting informed decision-making, and ensuring the continuity and visibility of the organisation’s activities.

Each General Assembly is developed around a dedicated thematic focus, reflecting emerging risks, operational priorities, and evolving policy or regulatory landscapes. This thematic approach ensures relevance and forward-looking discussion, positioning the Assembly as a forum not only for knowledge exchange but also for strategic reflection. The programme is articulated into two complementary components. The first is dedicated to thematic discussions, bringing together expert speakers, institutional representatives, and industry stakeholders to deliver presentations, share insights, and contribute operational perspectives. Contributions originate both from within the COLPOFER membership and from external partners, fostering a comprehensive and multidisciplinary dialogue on the selected theme.

The second component is institutional in nature and focused on reporting and coordination. The Secretariat provides an overview of ongoing initiatives, organisational developments, and strategic directions, while Working Group Chairpersons deliver structured updates on activities, outputs, and key deliverables within their respective domains. This segment ensures transparency, accountability, and continuity across the organisation’s technical work. General Assemblies are hosted by member countries and are typically convened twice per year, reinforcing their function as a regular and essential meeting point for the COLPOFER community and as a key driver of its operational and strategic coherence.

General Assemblies are hosted by COLPOFER member countries, reflecting the network’s cooperative structure and strengthening engagement through shared responsibility. Hosting follows established rotation criteria and is organised in close coordination with the Secretary General, who provides practical support to the hosting country across the planning and delivery phases. In organisational terms, preparation is framed through a Partnership Agreement that sets out the obligations of both parties.

Convened on a regular basis, the General Assembly functions as COLPOFER’s central meeting point for strategic orientation, operational consolidation, and structured exchange across the membership. By design, it connects governance decisions with the tangible outputs of Working Groups, while providing an authoritative platform for engagement with invited partners and experts relevant to the chosen theme. This structure reinforces COLPOFER’s role as a trusted forum for pan-European cooperation in railway security, ensuring that priorities are agreed collectively, progress is measured transparently, and operational experience is translated into shared understanding and coordinated direction.