In February 2026, the European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) released a report that made several proposals for improvements of operation of INTERPOL’s data processing and oversight mechanisms. A particular focus is laid on the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF). The report drew on ECBA members’ practical experience of acting for individuals affected by INTERPOL alerts. It highlighted progress made following reforms of INTERPOL in the past decade as well as the need for further improvements. It identified ongoing challenges in relation to a range of topical areas, including:

• Delays;
• Pre-emptive requests;
• Wanted person diffusion notices;
• The recognition of extradition decisions;
• INTERPOL's asylum and refugee policy;
• Confidentiality and communication;
• Publicity;
• Applications for revision;
• Appeal, remedies, redress;
• Impact of CCF decisions and repeated requests;
• Impartiality of and public confidence in the CCF.

The ECBA's recommendations refer, inter alia, to the following:

• Doing more regular and consistent updates on case progress or enhanced communication channels;
• Implementing an amended process of disclosure of information, and revising the Operating Rules, so that it is ensured that an applicant has the ability to comment on an National Central Bureau's (NCB’s) reasons for restrictions and achieves greater use of summaries in lieu of outright restriction;
• Ensuring more transparency and details regarding which information is shared between the CCF, the NCBs, and the Interpol General Secretariat (IPSG), including clearer rules on information processing within the IPSG;
• Establishing a review mechanism for wanted person diffusions similar to that applied for Red Notices;
• Reviewing the guidelines in order to assist applicants in identifying information that should not be disclosed and providing reasons for this;
• Reducing the overall number of revision applications by improving disclosure during the course of proceedings and introducing a right of appeal against CCF decisions;
• Establishing a formal monitoring mechanism to track whether NCBs implement deletion and correction decisions.

In addition, the report includes a number of recommendations on improving the CCF's internal organisation and strengthening its independence. Lastly, the ECBA expressed its hope that the report will feed into the further discussions on the reform of the CCF. It stressed that any reform of the CCF statute should not proceed in a piecemeal fashion and a thorough consultation of any further reform process should take place.