Source: European Parliament
The European Commission proposes to strengthen the EU law enforcement agency’s mandate to: • turn Europol into a truly operational police agency and double its staff; • strengthen Europol’s mandate and its oversight; • reinforce the support Europol provides to Member States; • reinforce cooperation between Europol and other Justice and Home Affairs agencies The European internal security strategy, which the Commission presented on 1 April 2025, provides indication of the Commission’s plans for the agency, but is scant on detail, since the Commission wants to begin by consulting Member States on the agency’s future. Historically, Member States have ranged from those that make very little use of the agency, via those that are happy with the current mandate and functions (supporting Member States with analysis and reports from its headquarters in The Hague), and those that want to see the agency more (pro)-active on the ground. While the European Parliament has not yet taken a position on Europol during the current legislative term, the European People’s Party and the Renew Group have in previous terms called, respectively, for Europol to become ‘Eurocops’ or a ‘European FBI’. The latter would imply giving Europol greater autonomy, including the right of initiative, which some Member States could be expected to oppose. In the context of an ongoing proposal to strengthen Europol’s role in combating migrant smuggling and trafficking, the Council has been reluctant to grant the agency additional powers. A legislative proposal for a new Europol regulation is expected in the second quarter of 2026.