The European Commission unveiled a series of new measures on Wednesday designed to strengthen Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, and better equip it to handle the growing threat of cross-border and digitally-driven crime.
The announcement comes after Europol warned last year that organized crime groups have been increasingly turning to artificial intelligence-powered scams to target victims. Stopping smuggling networks that illegally transport migrants across Europe also remains a top priority for governments throughout the region.
Under the new plan, Europol will develop its own sovereign cloud infrastructure and establish a shared data space, making it easier for investigators to work together on joint cases across national lines.
The agency will also open support offices within EU member countries, with those offices to be staffed by personnel who have prior Europol experience, according to the Commission.
Additionally, Europol will work to deepen its relationships with international partners and improve how it coordinates with Eurojust, the EU body responsible for judicial cooperation.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the urgency of the reforms, saying, “Criminals are highly adept at exploiting the opportunities of the digital realm, operating effectively across borders without limitations.”
Virkkunen added, “We are strengthening both Europol and Eurojust so that Europe can respond faster… share information more effectively, and bring criminals to justice more efficiently.”
