The European Commission announced yesterday its proposal for new measures to strengthen the EU’s response to an ever-evolving criminal landscape. “Crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, international, and digital,” they say from Brussels to explain these initiatives.
“To effectively tackle serious crime, the police, customs, prosecutors, and courts must work closely together from the start of an investigation to the final court ruling,” the European Commission states in a statement.
The proposals launched by the community executive cover all aspects of the EU’s support to member states, from prevention, detection, and investigation to judicial cooperation and effective prosecution.
The package includes two Regulations to strengthen the mandates of Europol and Eurojust, a review of the European Investigation Order, and amendments to the Regulation on data protection for the institutions and bodies of the Union.
“These measures,” their officials state, “will improve cooperation and complementarity between EU agencies and national authorities, including the police, customs, and courts.” They will also “support more joint investigations, accelerate prosecutions, and facilitate information exchange through a clearer legal framework and reduced administrative burden.”
Europol and Eurojust play a key role in the EU’s response to organized crime networks, terrorists, and hostile actors operating across borders, globally and online, and increasingly making use of artificial intelligence.
