Europol

Europol, located in The Hague (Den Haag), Netherlands is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. It was created in 1998 to improve the effectiveness and cooperation between the competent authorities of the Member States in preventing and combating serious international crime and terrorism. Europol is an important partner in the fight against serious international crime, such as terrorism, organized crime, people smuggling and drug trafficking. It provides intelligence and operational support to the law enforcement agencies of the European Union, as well as to the Member States' judicial authorities. Europol’s headquarters are situated in the "Europol building", which is also a research and learning center for members of the public. A visit to the Europol building provides an insight into the workings of European law enforcement and how cooperation between agencies can help prevent serious crime. The building also contains a museum that provides an overview of the work of Europol and the important role it plays in ensuring greater public safety in Europe.