Press Release: Assessment of law enforcement tools: no new databases needed at EU level

Exchanging information is an essential tool for law enforcement authorities, both when fighting serious organised crime (such as terrorism, trafficking in human beings, drugs or firearms) and offences committed by individuals across borders (such as murders and sexual violence against children).

The European Commission has adopted a Communication taking stock of how the information exchange works in the EU today, and recommending practical ways to improve it.

It concludes that information exchange generally works well, and no new EU-level law enforcement databases are therefore needed at this stage. However, the existing EU instruments should be better implemented, and exchange of information should be organised more consistently - in particular by creating Single Points of Contact for law enforcement agencies in all Member States.