Interview with Laura Martinez Portell (2021)

Laura Martinez Portell, Director of Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training (CEJFE)

What was your aspiration to apply for EPTA presidency?

The main aspiration was to offer a floor to all the EPTA network for consolidating the links among all members.
Another reason was to reinforce the aim of the CEJFE, as part of the European vocation of the Justice Department of the Government of Catalonia, to become an active member in all the professional international organisations in which it takes part.

During your presidential term, what would you like to achieve within the network?

We would like to continue developing the strategic goals of the organisation, to consolidate its pivotal position in the training of the staff working at the Prison Services around Europe. Additionally, stimulating the participation of the members of EPTA in the different activities and proposals planned for all the year, as an indicator that what we are doing has a positive impact in their own organisations.

How will your new role as President reflect on Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training (CEJFE)?

Clearly it is a challenge and a responsibility for the CEJFE to take over the presidency of EPTA, as we did in 2014. We are conscious that all the staff of the center will be involved in the project, in order to ensure that this will be a shared initiative of the entire organization. We are convinced that we’ll make it possible, as much as the idea is very stimulating for us: we really want to do it right!

Any other personal remarks that you would like to make?

Barcelona, as the capital of Catalonia, is a meeting place for people around the globe. Our soul is always open to sharing and learning from the people we host at home and vice versa. I’m sure that this will and way of doing things will help us to reinforce our alliances during all the time that we take over the presidency, and very in particular, during the celebration, next June 2022, the Annual Conference of EPTA. We are waiting for you all.