The BiH Ministry of Security and BiH law enforcement agencies took a step closer to establishing more effective international police cooperation on 12 July 2021 following a meeting facilitated by the EU Office. The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to get the Contact Point for the European Union’s law enforcement agency EUROPOL fully functional. The Contact Point will make it easier for law enforcement agencies in the EU and BiH to exchange valuable operational information on serious and organised crime and strengthen joint efforts to fight crime.

“Crime is increasingly conducted across borders, and therefore it is extremely important for law enforcement agencies to be able to support each other through the sharing of operational information,” says Margriet Prins, Head of Rule of Law at the EU Office. “Moreover, establishing information sharing mechanisms is a key priority for BiH’s EU path. After a number of years in which progress in setting up a EUROPOL contact point was slow, this meeting represents a concrete step forward in implementing the international agreement between BiH and EUROPOL”.

The Ministry of Security announced that premises for the Contact Point were available and that they will provide furniture and basic IT equipment. At the meeting, three provisional coordinators from the Border Police, FBiH and RS were designated.

The EU will continue to provide assistance, in particular in the process of drafting the rules of procedure for the Contact Point, in the interests of both EU and BiH citizens.