BiH, Europol sign police cooperation agreement

After several months of negotiating and harmonizing at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the nation signed an agreement on operational and strategic cooperation with the European Police Office (Europol) here on Wednesday.

Europol director Rob Wainwright and BiH Minister of Security Dragan Mektic said this act represents the biggest step of BiH on the path to European integration when it comes to the security sector, as makes the security agencies of BiH part of the European security system.

Wainwright added he was pleased that BiH will be able to contribute to overall European security, and that thanks to cooperation with Europol, BiH will obtain new tools and mechanisms in the fight against all security challenges.

"We live in dangerous times when the threat of terrorism in Europe is the largest in the last 20 years, with an unprecedented migrant crisis and new forms of organized and cyber crime. This is why the agreement is particularly important. Our cooperation will make both BiH and the EU safer," Wainwright said during a joint press conference.

The agreement will expand cooperation between Europol and BiH in combating cross-border criminal activities by exchanging information, including personal data of suspected criminals, and jointly planning operational activities.

The text of the cooperation agreement between Europol and BiH was approved by the Council of the European Union earlier this year. The agreement will be directly applicable in BiH once it is ratified by competent national authorities. Enditem