The Hague, 30/08/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, Europol opened a Liaison Office in Washington (at the European Commission's Representation in the United States), in the presence of its Director, Jürgen Storbeck, with Jacob Scharf representing the Danish Presidency, and representatives of the US Justice and Treasury Departments, as well as the FBI. Transatlantic relations are very vital for the "combined fight against organised crime and terrorism", commented Mr Storbeck, who cited the example of investigations following the terrorist attacks on 11 September, and spoke of the distribution in the United States of ecstasy tablets from Europe.
The two Europol liaison officers will develop contacts in Washington with their American counterparts, states an Europol press release, which affirms that opening of the Washington Office is "one of the most important results of the signing of a strategic agreement on 6 December 2001 with the USA".