Agreement streamlines real-time sharing of intelligence on issues of terror and serious crime.
By TPS
Israeli-European Union negotiations for an intelligence sharing agreement with Europol have been completed.
The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, Europol, is the law enforcement agency of the EU which handles criminal intelligence and combats international organized crime and terrorism.
Israel’s ambassador to the EU Haim Regev and the representative of the EU signed on Wednesday a statement of the completion of the negotiations between the parties for the exchange of information on terrorism and serious crime.
This ground-breaking agreement, after over a year of negotiations, will enable the transfer of information regularly and in real-time on the issues terror and serious crime.
The agreement “will provide the enforcement and security bodies with another significant tool to strengthen the security of the citizens of Israel and public peace,” the Ministry of Public Security stated.
“The agreement is expected to be another step in strengthening the operational cooperation between Israel and the European Union in the areas of the fight against crime, security and the fight against terrorism, while ensuring adequate protection of the right to privacy,” it added.
Before entering into force, this agreement will be subject to ratification, in accordance with the procedures accepted by both parties.
Public Security Minister Omer Barlev welcomed the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
“At this time, when crime and terrorism have become worldwide and they break borders and cross countries, it was important to me to complete the negotiations in order to strengthen the cooperation between the enforcement agencies – certainly when the enemy facing us has become elusive, sophisticated and has significant financial resources,” Balev said.
“There is no doubt that this is one step in the collaborations, which will only grow stronger, between the State of Israel and its enforcement bodies and the European Union,” he added.