Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Security, Dragan Mektić, and Europol’s Director, Rob Wainwright, signed today an agreement to expand their cooperation in combatting cross-border criminal activities by exchanging information, including personal data of suspected criminals, and jointly planning operational activities.

The signing of the Agreement on Operational and Strategic Cooperation concludes the successful negotiations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Europol on how to effectively join forces in fighting crime.

This new level of cooperation, after entry into force of the agreement, will be important for tackling priority crime areas affecting both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union, such as illegal migration, drug trafficking and counterfeit goods.

This agreement replaces the strategic cooperation agreement of 2007.

Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol, said: ”The signing of this operational agreement today marks an important step in strengthening the international combating of organised crime and terrorism, facilitating effective operational cooperation. Once in force, almost the entire region will be covered by operational agreements. Our cooperation will make both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU safer.”

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