Europol

European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation

Europol headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands
Agency overview
Formed	1 October 1998
Preceding	European Police Office Europol Drugs Unit
Jurisdiction	European Union
Headquarters	Eisenhowerlaan 73 The Hague, Netherlands 52°05′34″N 4°16′53″E / 52.0928°N 4.2815°E / 52.0928; 4.2815
Employees	1,432 (January 2022)[1]
Annual budget	€116.4 million (FY 2017)[2]
Agency executives	Catherine De Bolle, executive director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, deputy executive director for operations Luis de Eusebio Ramos, deputy executive director for capabilities Jürgen Ebner, deputy executive director for governance
Key document	Regulation (EU) 2016/794
Website	europol.europa.eu
Map
The Hague Europol (European Union)

Europol, officially the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, is the law enforcement agency of the European Union (EU). Established in 1998, it is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and serves as the central hub for coordinating criminal intelligence and supporting the EU's member states in their efforts to combat various forms of serious and organized crime, as well as terrorism.

Europol's main objective is to improve the effectiveness and cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the EU member states. To achieve this, Europol facilitates the exchange of information and intelligence, provides analytical support, and offers specialized training and expertise. Some of the key areas of focus for Europol include drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, and counter-terrorism.

The Agency has no executive powers, and its officials are not entitled to arrest suspects, conduct independent investigations, or act without prior approval from competent authorities in the member states as Europol's role is to support and facilitate the efforts of national law enforcement agencies within the EU.