EIRP Proceedings, Vol 3 (2008)

Abstract

Europol is the European Law Enforcement Organisation which aims at improving the
effectiveness and co-operation of the competent authorities in the Member States in preventing and combating
terrorism, unlawful drug trafficking and other serious forms of international organised crime.
The establishment of Europol was agreed in the Maastricht Treaty on European Union of 7 February
1992. Based in The Hague, Netherlands, Europol started limited operations on 3 January 1994 in the form of the
Europol Drugs Unit (EDU) fighting against drugs. Progressively, other important areas of criminality were
added. On 1 January 2002, the mandate of Europol was extended to deal with all serious forms of international
crime as listed in the annex to the Europol Convention. The Europol Convention was ratified by all Member
States and came into force on 1 October 1998. Following a number of legal acts related to the Convention,
Europol commenced its full activities on 1 July 1999.