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ENCOUNTER
An encounter with
Rob WAINWRIGHT,
EUROPOL Director
ENCOUNTER The procedures for access to EUROPOL's The challenges are significant as shown in Rob WAINWRIGHT, EUROPOL Director, with the two
new headquarters on Eisenhowerlaan are EUROPOL strategy 2010-20142. deputy presidents of EUROPA, Anne-AZAM
PRADEILLES and Graham GARBUTT, The Hague,
both classic and rigorous - adding to the 24 October 2012 - (Photo AAP/GB)
somewhat cosmopolitan and welcoming Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) is an area The provisions applied to EUROPOL give it
attitude of a European Union agency. The still largely dominated by the principle of a broader mission without coercive powers
doors open upon discreet palm verification subsidiarity - which can cause difficulties, on member states. The agency must use its
- iris recognition has been ruled out for particularly for cross-border management. powers of persuasion and must rely on the
reasons of hygiene. The simple architecture quality of work to convince. The 20% annual
of the building combined with very modern The different rules on evidence, for increase of activities is certainly an
furniture confirms this shift away from example, in respect of telephone indicator of success, but in a context of
high-level security stereotypes. interceptions complicate joint actions. severe budget constraints, the agency must
Meanwhile, criminal and terrorist threats above all remain confined to its role and
The Director of EUROPOL welcomes the two are increasing and are changing. avoid duplicating national agencies.
deputy presidents of EUROPA in a modern International mafia organizations, in a vein
office with large windows and hardly visible similar multinationals, generate a 'turnover'
folders. Rob Wainwright, appointed in April estimated at EUR 170 billion or more. And This effort is particularly necessary to
2009 upon the transformation of EUROPOL the sector is fragmented into 'small and optimise relations with EUROJUST and
into an agency1, is British, born in Wales in medium-sized businesses' that can emerge, INTERPOL. INTERPOL has a global scope
1967. Having earned a degree in grow and disappear. Smaller mobile groups, and is present in 190 countries, compared
international business studies at the London often violent and performing a wide range to EUROPOL's thirty. The work of the two
School of Economics, he joined the MI5 of criminal activities, may emerge in agencies is complementary. INTERPOL
intelligence agency. Specialised in organised different countries and be very difficult to relies on a vast network and EUROPOL
focuses on more in-depth work, particularly
crime, he was the head of the UK Liaison identify, penetrate and dismantle.
in terms of high-level security protocols.
4 Bureau at EUROPOL, and later he was at
the lead of of the International Department EUROPOL's mission is to improve such
of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. The situations and not to intervene directly. The The single information system SIENA3,
appointment of Rob Wainwright was agency provides basic services, including shared by all EUROPOL members , provides
consensual - thanks to his professional its intelligence resources, and makes secure access. In France, for example, 1000
experience and the strong support of his efforts to converge procedures. This terminals are connected to the system,
country, even if it was still possible that an synergy is based on networking based on without relying on an Internet connection.
excellent candidate could emerge from the trust between partners. But the EUROPOL EUROPOL and EUROJUST, established in
new member states. personnel tend to favour established 2002, signed a cooperation agreement in
contacts and connections without always 2004 and have established joint teams since
The challenges for EUROPOL: tapping all agency resources. Building a 2007.
crime without borders, broader context of trust is therefore a
subsidiarity and partnership precondition for success.
Organised crime and terrorism know no Moreover, culture limiting the transmission
borders. Countries cannot fight against of information to only those 'having to
them on their own. EUROPOL's mission is know' hampers wider dissemination. Thus,
to provide that support and promote a critical information may not be incorporated
culture of international cooperation in the into the database and local crime prevention
field of security. The director's mission is may miss out on activities and criminal
to make this joint work of states operational. networks operating on a larger scale.
(1) Council Decision of 6 April 2009 establishing the European Police Office (Europol),
https://www.europol.europa.eu/sites/default/files/council_decision.pdf
(2) https://www.europol.europa.eu/sites/default/files/publications/europol_strategy_2010-2014_brochure.pdf
(3) Secure Information Exchange Network Application
(4) See some dates and figures in the box.
https://www.europol.europa.eu/sites/default/files/publications/anniversary-publication.pdf
(5) In French in the English interview.
EUROPEAN REVIEW ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION