Eurocops a possibility

European Union ministers are discussing expanding the authority of EU police agency Europol. An informal meeting of the EU Council of Ministers in January discussed giving Europol its own investigative staff with police powers, rather than always supporting national forces, as at present. Ministers agreed that a “full debate” was needed, although for now, detailed work should focus on extending joint investigative groups, involving cross-frontier national police units and strengthening cooperation between Europol and other European agencies or associations.