Cross-border currents - extension of Europol powers approved by MEPs

By Keith Nuthall

The European Parliament has approved giving Europol more powers, backing a European Union (EU) regulation that would authorise the police agency to pursue its own research and innovation projects, process large datasets for intelligence, and help national authorities screen foreign direct investment in security-related cases. Under the reform, Europol will collaborate more closely with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). Also, it will collect data from private companies, including telcos, relating to terrorist content or child sexual abuse. [1]