Today, this Friday September 19, 2008 at 10:00am, in Podgorica, Mr. Max-Peter Ratzel, Director of EUROPOL — the European Union law enforcement organisation that handles criminal intelligence, and H.E. Mr. Jusuf Kalamperović, Montenegrin Minister of Interior Affairs and Public Administration, signed in the ceremonial hall of the Ministry a strategic co-operation agreement. It aims to enhance co-operation to fight serious forms of international crime including among others, drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal immigration.

The agreement between the two parties makes it possible to exchange strategic and technical information. In the future a workshop to raise awareness and to identify any process problems that exist can be arranged. A “train the trainer” event during which knowledge and information directly relevant to Montenegrin cooperation with EUROPOL can be given to Montenegrin training officers with the intention that they subsequently spread the word to their colleagues in their own language. Furthermore activities like a gap analysis helping to overcome gaps within the cooperation infrastructure as well as traineeship visits to Europol for key personnel can be agreed.

In addition to these possibilities the agreement also provides the legal basis for an exchange of liaison officers. The agreement shall enter into force on the date on which Montenegro notifies EUROPOL in writing through diplomatic channels that it has ratified this agreement.

Agreement on strategic co-operation between Montenegro and EUROPOL

EUROPOL has improved its international law enforcement cooperation by negotiating bilateral operational or strategic agreements with other states and international organisations as follows (in alphabetical order): Albania, Australia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, CEPOL (European Police College),Colombia, Croatia, Eurojust, ECB (European Central Bank), EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, European Commission, FRONTEX (European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union), FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Iceland, Interpol, Moldova, Norway, OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office), Republic of Serbia, Russian Federation, SitCen (EU Joint Situation Center), Switzerland, Turkey, United States of America, UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) and WCO (World Customs Organization).