EU countries support increased police cooperation to address security challenges

This Monday, the Ministers of the Interior of the countries of the European Union (EU) supported the idea of strengthening police cooperation in the face of new security challenges, many of which are related to the digital environment.

During a videoconference, the European heads of state adopted conclusions on internal security and police partnership, which reiterate the political priorities to be achieved between now and 2025, the Council explained in a statement.

Other objectives include making full use of warning tools at European level on criminal acts, with a better connection between available information, in particular by facilitating the operability of systems.

Among other aspects, the aim is to empower authorities to enable cross-border surveillance and prosecution of crime, ensuring that they can use artificial intelligence technologies.

They also propose strengthening EU agencies such as Europol and Frontex and set out the way forward in a number of areas such as police cooperation, the fight against transnational organised crime and the prevention and combating of terrorism.

In addition, the Council (EU countries) today adopted a resolution on encryption, which underlines support for the development, implementation and use of encryption as a means to protect fundamental rights and digital security, but at the same time "notes" the need to ensure that competent police and judicial authorities can exercise their legal powers.

The text recalls that these authorities are increasingly dependent on access to electronic evidence to effectively combat terrorism, organised crime, child sexual abuse and many cybercrimes.

The resolution explains that the EU wants to launch a debate with the technology industry to "strike the right balance between ensuring the continued use of robust encryption technology and guaranteeing the powers of law enforcement and the judiciary".

Possible technical solutions, the document stresses, "must respect privacy and fundamental rights and preserve the value that technological progress brings to society".