Brussels, 06/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - Since 1 January, the European Police Office, Europol, has had a new mandate and extended powers to fight serious international crime and terrorism. Despite its 15 years of existence, this is the first time that Europol, which is now an official agency of the Union, has had more powers to gather information on crime and an increased scope of competency to support investigations of a serious nature, such as those into serial killers active in more than one country. "This is a time of great opportunity for Europol and police cooperation in the EU. We will use this period of reform to our mandate and capabilities, and the opportunities afforded by the Lisbon Treaty, to establish Europol as the criminal information hub and principal operational support centre in the EU", said Rob Wainwright, the director of Europol. The agency, which has 600 experts to assist the authorities of the member states of the EU, is involved in more than 10,000 investigations of a cross-border nature every year. In April 2009, the home affairs ministers of the EU definitively adopted the proposed decision of the Council to replace the 1995 convention creating the European Police Office (Europol) and to extend its mandate (EUROPE 9878 and 9646). (B.C./transl.fl)