EMPACT and EU Agencies' Roles

Europol's Role in EMPACT

• Europol is responsible for producing the EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA)
• It hosts the EMPACT Support Team
• Europol supports Operational Action Plans (OAPs) with intelligence analysis and operational inputs
• It participates in operational actions within the EMPACT OAPs
• Europol provides EMPACT funding
• Co-drives the migrant smuggling OAP

Eurojust's Role

• Eurojust is the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation
• Its main role is to improve the coordination of investigations and prosecutions between EU Member States
• Participates in several operational actions under the EMPACT crime priorities
• Focuses on judicial cooperation and coordination, especially for complex cross-border cases

Frontex's Role

• Frontex is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency
• Has a reinforced mandate and increased competences in tackling cross-border crime
• Co-drives the migrant smuggling OAP
• Participates in operational actions in land, maritime and air domains
• Shares intelligence to support Member State investigations
• Supports and coordinates EMPACT Joint Action Days (JADs)

CEPOL's Role

• CEPOL is the European Agency for Law Enforcement Training

EUIPO's Role

• EUIPO is the European Union Intellectual Property Office and is involved in the EMPACT OAP relating to IP crime and counterfeiting of goods
• Involved in updating the handbook on practical investigations related to IP crime

ELA's Role

• ELA is the European Labour Authority
• Participating and co-leading operational actions within the Trafficking of Human Beings (THB) OAP
• Involved in EMPACT action days against trafficking for all types of labour exploitation

EFCA's Role

• EFCA is the European Fisheries Control Agency
• Coordinates control and inspection of fishing grounds
• Supports national authorities performing coastguard functions
• Participates in the Environmental Crime OAP

Other Actors Involved in EMPACT

• Non-EU actors: Non-EU countries, EU missions, and international organizations
• Actors outside law enforcement/judiciary: private sector, public sector, EU networks, expert groups, and academia
• Partners can be invited to participate with or without operational/strategic agreements

Non-EU Partners

• Many crime priority areas contain non-EU aspects
• The operational implementation of the EMPACT cycle considers the external dimension of EU internal security

EU SOCTA

• Published in four versions
• Aims to inform law enforcement, decision-makers, and the public on developments in serious and organized crime
• Feeds into the political process along with other assessments and research papers
• The cornerstone of EMPACT
• Focuses on:
  • Threatening features of crime areas
  • Characteristics of organized crime groups
  • Specific geographical aspects
  • Impact of crime on society

Methodology

• The methods used to create the EU SOCTA have evolved over time
• Member States and EU agencies can participate as drivers, co-drivers, action leaders, action co-leaders, or participants
• The Presidency receives communication about interest in being a driver or co-driver
• In exceptional cases, the driving Member State may change after 2 years

Evolution of Crime Priorities

• 2012-13: Illegal immigration, THB, MOCG, Cybercrime, Synthetic Drugs, Container shipments, West Africa, Western Balkans
• 2014-17: Illegal immigration, THB, Organised property crime, Cybercrime (card fraud, child sexual exploitation, cyberattacks), Synthetic drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Excise fraud, MTIC fraud, Firearms, Counterfeit goods
• 2018-21: Illegal immigration, THB, Organised property crime, Cybercrime (card fraud, child sexual exploitation, cyberattacks), Drugs (synthetic drugs, cocaine, heroin, cannabis), Excise fraud, MTIC fraud, Firearms, Environmental crime, Criminal Finances, Document Fraud
• 2022-2025: Migrant smuggling, THB, Organised property crime, Cyberattacks, Drugs (synthetic drugs, cocaine, heroin, cannabis), Fraud, economic and financial crimes, Firearms, Environmental crime, Child sexual exploitation, High-risk criminal networks

Crime Priorities of the 2022-2025 Cycle

• The current EMPACT cycle has 10 crime priorities

Explore the crucial roles of Europol, Eurojust, and Frontex in the EMPACT initiative. This quiz covers their responsibilities, contributions to operational action plans, and the coordination of criminal justice efforts within the EU. Test your knowledge of how these agencies collaborate to combat organized crime and enhance judicial cooperation.