Europol, whose headquarters are in The Hague in the Netherlands, is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. Europol's mission is to support its members in preventing and combating all forms of serious international and organised crime, cybercrime, terrorism as well as economic and financial crime. “Europol” is a portmanteau of the former designation European Police Office. The agency became operative on 1 July 1999. Europol’s workforce consists of over 1’700 people from 54 different countries. Europol hosts a network of over 300 liaison officers from EU Member States as well as from third countries and international organisations.
A cooperation agreement between Switzerland and Europol took effect on 1 March 2006. The agreement facilitates the exchange of strategic, operational and other specific information. To enhance cooperation, four liaison officers of the Federal Office of Police (fedpol) and a liaison officer of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) have been posted to The Hague.
In 2018, the mandate of the agreement was expanded to 30 crime areas.
Last modification 21.10.2024