The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, better known as Europol (formerly the European Police Office and Europol Drugs Unit) is the law enforcement agency of the EU that handles the criminal intelligence and combating of serious international organized crime and terrorism through cooperation among competent authorities of EU member states. Formed in 1998, the Agency has no executive powers, and its officials are not entitled to arrest suspects or act without prior approval from authorities in the member states.
Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency. Their main goal is to achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of all the EU citizens. They support the 27 EU Member States, and work with many non-EU partner states and international organizations, in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organized forms of crime.
Large-scale criminal and terrorist networks pose a significant threat to our security, safety, and livelihood through:
– Terrorism
– International drug trafficking
– Money laundering
– Organized fraud
– Counterfeiting of currency
– Human trafficking