Strengthening the mandates of Europol and Eurojust: the EU Commission’s proposals on security

Brussels – To foster ever-closer cooperation between police, customs, public prosecutors, and courts across the European Union, in order to tackle the “constantly evolving criminal landscape.” This is the aim of the new measures launched today (24 June) by the European Commission. “Today we are presenting the most important elements of the European Union’s internal security strategy,” stated the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, at a press conference. In fact, “it is about making the work easier for our police officers and for the Member States as a whole.” According to the European Commission, “crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, international and digital” and, to tackle crime, “the police, customs, prosecutors, and courts must work closely together from the start of the investigation right through to the final judgement.” 

The package comprises two regulations to strengthen the mandates of Europol and Eurojust (the European Police Office and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation): a revision of the European Investigation Order (a judicial instrument that allows a competent authority in one Member State to access evidence or conduct investigations directly in another EU country) and amendments to the Data Protection Regulation for the Union’s institutions and bodies. The aim is to improve “cooperation and complementarity between EU agencies and national authorities, including police, customs, and courts,” as well as to support “a greater number of joint investigations, speed up criminal proceedings and facilitate the exchange of information through a clearer legal framework and a reduced administrative burden.”

Strengthening Europol’s mandate

Although he praised the agency’s success in carrying out “more than 20,000 operations and nearly 32,000 arrests,” as well as the seizure of “assets worth nearly €9 billion,” the commissioner emphasised that the new mandate “can make a difference.” Described as “the most comprehensive update in its 25-year history,” the new structure provides, first and foremost, a more efficient and secure exchange of information, enabling automated, faster sharing and real-time collaboration on investigations. On this point, Brunner clarified that at present, “Europol does not automatically receive the information that Member States should actually be sharing and, even where data is shared, the system relies on bilateral messaging and ad hoc requests.” Consequently, “a gang of robbers could strike homes across Europe without law enforcement agencies in the various Member States making the connection between these cases.” 

The agency will also establish “a secure, scalable, and sovereign cloud infrastructure and a shared police data space.” In addition to information, the plan includes more robust operational support for Member States through the establishment of Europol support offices in each of the 27 Member States. Added to this is a technology and innovation hub which will support “Member States’ investments in joint research and development activities” and ensure “access to advanced capabilities.” Also planned are greater cooperation with EU agencies and bodies—in particular with Eurojust and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)—and enhanced international cooperation with partner countries “to jointly tackle global cross-border crime.” In this regard, Brunner noted that “over the past two years, the EU has concluded 46 agreements, the most recent with Brazil and Peru,” and that in Colombia, in 2025, with Europol’s support, “a vast cocaine trafficking network was dismantled, leading to 22 arrests, the seizure of one tonne of white powder, and the freezing of 53 bank accounts before the drugs could enter the EU.”

Eurojust: greater support for prosecutors and judicial authorities

Like Brunner, the European Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath, has praised Eurojust: “Since 2020, the workload has increased by over 60 per cent,” he said, emphasising that “in 2025, Eurojust investigated six times as many suspects, seized ten times as much drugs as in 2020 and arrested more than twice as many suspects,” as well as “supported 14,000 criminal investigations, facilitated over 400 joint investigation teams, and contributed to the arrest or surrender of 4,400 suspects.” However, “the agency’s success has brought new challenges,” he noted, and therefore the new mandate will support the agency in a number of key areas. 

First and foremost, there is an improvement in “capacity and operational support.” This means that Eurojust “will be able to act independently to identify links between cases, anticipate and decide on the need for coordination, help resolve jurisdictional issues and support national authorities from the earliest stages of proceedings.” Added to this is support in emerging areas of crime—such as “cybercrime, breaches of EU restrictive measures or gender-based violence,” and “stronger governance and decision-making processes”—which aims to streamline decision-making “through more agile processes, greater administrative efficiency, and swifter action in urgent and complex cases.” In parallel with Europol, preparations are being made for “an integrated EU criminal justice system,” whereby Eurojust will improve and strengthen its cooperation with Europol and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and “greater international engagement” which will also involve third countries.

European Investigation Order and the Data Protection Regulation for the institutions and bodies of the Union

Finally, the Commission has also proposed today to update the European Investigation Order, a fast-track, standardised procedure for cross-border evidence gathering across Member States in criminal matters. The new rules will simplify the application of the order by streamlining procedures and removing operational difficulties. Provision has also been made for the introduction of a new European order for remote participation “to enable suspects, accused persons, and victims to participate remotely in criminal hearings from another Member State.” The Commission also aims to update Data Protection Regulation for the institutions and bodies of the Union (EUDPR) in order to enable more effective cooperation between the EU’s criminal justice institutions and bodies. All the reforms promoted today form part of the
President von der Leyen’s political guidelines and the EU Internal Security Strategy ProtectEU.