On Monday 4 June, the Council of the EU approved the Commission's proposal to reinforce Europol's cooperation with third countries to fight terrorism and other serious forms of transnational crime more effectively, the Commission announced in a press release dated 5 June. The Commission proposed this cooperation in the framework of the anti-terrorism package of October 2017 and subsequently proposed these cooperation agreements in December.
This Council green light gives the Commission a mandate to start talks with eight countries – Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey – on the exchange of information, including personal data, with Europol, the European police cooperation agency. The press release adds that the agreements will establish appropriate guarantees on the protection of privacy and the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.
Given the operational requirements of the law enforcement authorities throughout the EU and the potential benefits of closer cooperation in this field, the Commission considered that it was necessary to start negotiations as soon as possible with the eight countries listed in the 11th progress report on creating a true and effective security union, it states in the preamble to each of its recommendations to start negotiations. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)