EU plans major expansion of Europol’s powers

Brussels (dpa) – The European Commission is pushing to significantly expand the authority of Europol, transforming it into an operational law enforcement agency with greater powers and resources.

A detailed proposal for the pan-European police agency’s new mandate is expected next year and will require approval from the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner made the announcement on Tuesday.

Currently, Europol chiefly acts as the EU’s law enforcement cooperation agency. It assists EU member states in tackling serious international and organised crime, cybercrime, and terrorism. The agency, based in The Hague, also collaborates with non-EU countries and international organisations.

Rising cyber threats drive push for stronger Europol

The Commission argues that Europol lacks the resources to provide stronger support for cross-border crime investigations. Additionally, its current mandate does not cover emerging security threats such as sabotage, hybrid warfare, or information manipulation.

The threat of cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns continues to grow, with state-sponsored attacks on critical infrastructure posing a particularly serious risk, according to the Commission.

The plans to expand Europol’s role are part of a broader EU security strategy. Other measures include strengthening cybersecurity protections for hospitals and health care providers, as well as enhancing the security of undersea telecommunications cables. (April 1)