Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency. Our main goal is to achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of all the EU citizens.

Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, we support the 28 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations.

Large-scale criminal and terrorist networks pose a significant threat to the internal security of the EU and to the safety and livelihood of its people. The biggest security threats come from:

• terrorism;
• international drug trafficking and money laundering;
• organised fraud;
• the counterfeiting of euros;
• trafficking in human beings.

The networks behind the crimes in each of these areas are quick to seize new opportunities, and they are resilient in the face of traditional law enforcement measures.

Europol is accountable at the EU level to the Council of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs.

The Council is responsible for the main control and guidance of Europol. It appoints the Executive Director and the Deputy Directors, and approves Europol’s budget (which is part of the general budget of the EU), together with the European Parliament. It also can adopt, together with the European Parliament, regulations related to Europol’s work. Each year the Council forwards a special report to the European Parliament on the work of Europol.