The European Commission has adopted two legislative proposals aimed at enhancing the mandates of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) in response to rising hybrid threats, organised crime, and digital security risks.
The proposals were presented at a press conference in Brussels. “We are facing an escalation of hybrid threats, the expansion of organised crime, and growing digital dangers posed by criminals and terrorists.
To ensure internal security, we are strengthening Europol and Eurojust so they can provide Member States with the necessary support — from prevention to prosecution,” said Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the European Commission.
The Commission proposes to reinforce Europol’s mandate through improved information sharing, the integration of advanced technologies into its operations, increased operational support to EU Member States, and stronger cooperation with other European agencies and international partners.
A key element is the creation of a cloud-based infrastructure for Europol, which will enable secure access to data processing capabilities and IT tools.
This will allow law enforcement officers from different countries to collaborate remotely on the same cases in real time.The proposals also seek to enhance coordination and complementarity between Europol and Eurojust, as well as with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the EU anti-money laundering authority, and the newly established European Customs Authority.“Today we are presenting the most significant update in Europol’s 25-year history,” stated Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration.Brunner highlighted that the changes are designed to close existing gaps currently exploited by criminal networks due to insufficient coordination.
Among the measures are the automation of data uploads to Europol.
The agency is also to become a central hub for technology and innovation, developing a comprehensive European overview of law enforcement needs to support joint research and development, particularly in areas such as decryption and artificial intelligence.
The proposals will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for further consideration and adoption.