Europol in Extradition Law

What is Europol?

Europol (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) is the EU's law enforcement agency, based in The Hague. It supports the member states in combating serious international crime and terrorism, but it has no executive powers of its own — it may not make arrests or order searches.

Role in extradition matters

Europol coordinates and supports cross-border investigations that frequently lead to extradition requests. It operates the Europol Information System (EIS) and the secure exchange platform SIENA (Secure Information Exchange Network Application), through which operational information is exchanged between Europol, the Member States and partner authorities. In search proceedings, Europol can assist in producing and disseminating wanted alerts, which in turn form the basis for an EAW or an Interpol notice.

Distinction from Interpol

Unlike Interpol, Europol operates exclusively within the EU. Interpol acts worldwide and runs the notice system (Red Notice, diffusion). In practice, both systems are used in parallel when a person is being sought internationally.

Legal protection

Affected persons have the right to request information about the data stored on them at Europol and to have inaccurate data corrected or deleted. The competent authority is the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). These options can be strategically relevant in search and extradition matters.

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