News in detail

Within the framework of the Barcelona Treaty, signed between the President of the French Republic and the President of the Spanish Government, the Institut des hautes études du ministère de l'Intérieur (IHMEI) and the Spanish Ministry of the Interior have agreed to organise an annual seminar alternating between Paris and Madrid. Following the edition held in Madrid in November 2024, dedicated to the fight against violence against women, the next meeting took place in Paris on 25 and 26 November 2025, where two priority areas of cooperation were addressed: cybercrime and disinformation. 

The first day focused on cybercrime, which is now one of the main threats to internal security in both France and Spain. Closely linked to organised crime, it manifests itself through massive online scams, phishing campaigns, cyberattacks against the healthcare sector, administrations and strategic companies, among others, as well as serious crimes such as online child exploitation. In a cross-border and anonymous environment, the security forces of both countries face growing challenges: investigating in a poorly regulated digital space, tracking and exploiting digital evidence, and cooperating effectively both at European level and with the private sector.

The second day was devoted to disinformation, a phenomenon which, amplified by digital technology and artificial intelligence, has become a central challenge for internal security. State and non-state actors are increasingly resorting to these campaigns to erode trust in institutions, hinder crisis management, fuel social polarisation or encourage radicalisation processes. The seminar provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of these threats—their motivations, early warning signs and operational impacts—and to analyse the role played by specialised agencies such as VIGINUM in France and the Secretariat of State for Security in Spain. 

Finally, it should be noted that these conferences were attended by high-level speakers from both countries, including French figures such as the Head of the OFAC (Office Anti-Cybercriminalité), the Deputy Prosecutor of the Cybercrime Division and the Deputy Director of VIGINUM's Operations Division, among others. Notable Spanish figures included the National Coordinator for Computer Crime, the Head of the Cybersecurity Coordination Office and the Head of the Strategic Intelligence Service of the OCC.