Europol is the European Union law enforcement organisation that handles criminal intelligence. Its mission is to assist the law enforcement authorities of Member States in their fight against serious forms of organised crime.

Europol, in close co-operation with Member States, Candidate Countries and other law enforcement bodies, is actively involved in the fight against organised crime whilst maintaining full respect for individual integrity and human rights.


The Europol Convention states that Europol shall establish and maintain a computerised system to allow the input, access and analysis of data. The Convention also provides the legal framework for the management of these systems, in particular as regards data protection, confidentiality and external supervision.

The Europol computerised system has three principal components:
- An information system;
- An analysis system;
- An index system.

In addition to the above systems aimed at processing personal data, Europol is developing and managing many more information products and services, either as part of or in support of its core business.

In order to fight international organised crime effectively, Europol cooperates with a number of third countries and organisations. On the basis of agreements concluded in accordance with the Europol Convention, particularly close cooperation exists with a number of third countries and organisations as follows (in alphabetical order):

Albania, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, CEPOL, Colombia, Croatia, Eurojust, European Central Bank, European Commission, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Frontex, Iceland, Interpol, Moldova, Norway, OLAF, Russian Federation, Switzerland, SITCEN, Turkey, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, USA, World Customs Organisation.