Press Release: Europol: deal on new powers to step up EU police cooperation and fight terrorism

The European Parliament's civil liberties committee backed on 30 November 2015 a deal struck between the chamber and the Council of the European Union regarding the EU police agency Europol. The agreement had been reached on 26 November.

The new regulation was expected to allow Europol to step up efforts to fight terrorism, cybercrime and other criminal offences and to respond faster. The new powers were decided together with strong data protection safeguards and democratic oversight.

It also includes rules for existing units or centres such as the Internet Referral Unit, which ensures the swift removal of websites praising terrorist acts or encouraging EU citizens to join terrorist organisations, and the European Counter Terrorism Centre, which was expected to officially start work on 1 January 2016.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Europol reform - but who polices the police? http://www.europeansources.info/record/europol-reform-but-who-polices-the-police/

ESO: Background information: European Police Office (Europol) http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-european-union-agency-for-law-enforcement-cooperation-europol/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 30.11.15: Europol: helping EU countries fight international crime and terrorism http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151130STO05256/

Politico, 03.12.15: Europe’s intelligence ‘black hole’ http://www.politico.eu/article/europes-intelligence-black-hole-europol-fbi-cia-paris-counter-terrorism/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 03.12.15: Parliament's response to terrorist threat: Europol, passenger records, need for common action http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151203STO06001/

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