On Tuesday, the European Commission proposed a new internal security strategy called ProtectEU, which includes, among other things, a significant strengthening of Europol, the European police cooperation agency.
The new strategy aims to facilitate coordinated action, deepen cooperation through information exchange, and improve the EU's resilience and collective ability to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to security threats.
"Security is one of the key prerequisites for open, dynamic societies and a successful economy. That is why today we are launching an important initiative to better combat security threats such as terrorism, organized crime, growing cybercrime and attacks on our key infrastructure," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Among other things, the ProtectEU strategy envisages a new, stronger mandate for Europol, which should become an operational police agency to strengthen support for member states.
Europol has over 1400 employees who are tasked with assisting member states in the fight against organized crime, terrorism, and cyber attacks.
The Commission wants to double the number of Europol employees.
"Every day we hear that criminals are one step ahead of us. This can only change if we strengthen our law enforcement agencies, so we will propose that Europol becomes a driving force for European security by doubling its staff, strengthening its mandate and improving its efficiency," said Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner.
The current mandate of Europol does not include the fight against hybrid threats and sabotage, which should change. Next year, the Commission will propose a law on changing Europol's mandate.
With the new mandate, Europol should have a greater role in investigating cross-border, large-scale and complex cases that pose a serious threat to the internal security of the Union, and closer cooperation with other EU agencies, in particular Eurojust and the EPPO, would be ensured.
The goal of increased Europol support should be to strengthen the capacity of member states to carry out effective investigations using digital forensics, decryption, processing of increasing amounts of data, operational use of new and innovative technologies, suppression of illegal profits.
Commission Executive Vice-President for Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen announced that the Commission will also propose strengthening Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and reforming Eurojust, the EU agency for criminal justice cooperation.
Photo: EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
