Brussels, 25/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - The 2003 Annual Report of Europol (the European Police Office) indicates a significant increase in the use of Europol by European national law enforcement agencies (4700 cases, as opposed to 3400 in 2002, according to a press release). "The report shows a growing awareness for our services, and that our colleagues in the Member States appreciate the added value given from our analysts in the fight against organised crime and terrorism," said acting Europol Director Mariano Simancas (acting Director until the deadlock over the successor to Jurgen Storbeck is resolved, see Europe of 20 July, p.7).
The press release explains that there was an overall increase of information exchanges of around 40% between 2002 and 2003, and 19 multinational and multi-disciplinary analysis projects were carried out by Europol staff. In 2003, a more target orientated approach was taken, focussing on criminal organisations, and this continues to be used across the areas of terrorism, drugs trafficking, illegal immigration, human trafficking, euro counterfeiting and financial crimes.
Last year, Europol planned for the impact of EU enlargement on its work and the full integration of the 10 new Member States is expected to be finalised in the autumn.