More money, more staff, more muscle for Europol

The EPP Group is driving efforts to boost Europol's ability to fight the criminal networks behind migrant smuggling.

“Right now, the Europol regulation still falls short in several areas, preventing the Europol from reaching its full potential. That’s why we’ve secured €50 million in extra funding and 50 new staff members to strengthen its fight against these networks,” said EPP Group MEP Jeroen Lenaers, the European Parliament’s negotiator, ahead of today’s vote on the new law to strengthen Europol's role in tackling migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

“Too often, migrants' journeys are facilitated by organised criminal groups that operate across countries. That’s why we’re reinforcing Europol and its European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (EMSC) as the EU’s hub for investigations, operations, and strategic analysis,” Lenaers added.
 
“The EPP Group has ensured stronger cooperation and coordination between Member States, Europol, EU agencies, and third countries, because tackling this problem requires a united European response,” Lenaers concluded.