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The future of Europol - the new legal framework
europa
the current legal framework – the europol Convention – came into force on
01 october 1998. since than several amendments and changes of the europol legal
framework were required in order to meet the operational needs and requirements of
the Member states. amending the legal framework of europol was a cumbersome and
time-consuming procedure because of trying to adapt the europol Convention to meet
ratification requirements. on 13 June 2007, the Justice and Home affairs Council agreed
in luxembourg, that the europol Convention should be replaced by a Council decision in
2010 to more effectively adapt to the business needs of europol and that europol would
be funded from the european union Community budget. the Council decision is planned
to become effective on 1 January 2010.
the vice-president of the european Commission Jacques Barrot stated that:
“This is a veritable transformation, not merely a cosmetic one. Europol will become
a full EU body, with the tools to support law enforcement agencies in the Member States
even more effectively. As a result, European police forces will cooperate more closely” 3 .
in operational terms, europol will profit from an enlarged mandate, the possibility
to set-up new data bases and an enhanced cooperation within the eu as well as with third
partners. Furthermore, the “Central office for combating euro Counterfeiting” allocated
to europol, will be strengthened.
europol aims to become the Member states’ first platform of choice for the both
actual exchanging of information and enhancing possibilities to exchange information,
with third parties and private partners.
europol being a relatively young organisation is on the right path to developing
into “a world-class centre of excellence to support the eu Member states’ fight against all
forms of serious international crime and terrorism” as is stated in the europol vision.
eventually, the “the Hague programme: strengthening Freedom, security and
Justice in the european union” will be updated in 2009. the new political, legal and
institutional framework will guide europol to intensified law enforcement cooperation in
the eu Member states, but also to beyond the eu borders.
3 press release “europol to become eu agency in 2010”, Brussels, 18 april 2008, ip/08/610.
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