Kosovo signs co-operation agreement with EUROOPOL

Kosovo and the European Union Intelligence Agency, EUROOPOL, co-operation agreements have been signed Monday in order to combat serious crimes. With the signing of this agreement, it was said to advance and strengthen Kosovo's capacities in combating crime. As Kosovo police from today have reached 94 police co-operation agreements that are assessing the implementation of the highest international personal data standards.

Interior Minister Agim Veliu, who signed this agreement, said that equal treatment with the region's police is being offered to Kosovo, adding that Kosovo has been challenged by lack of real-time information in order to prevent criminal phenomena.

Now with the signing of this agreement, Kosovo Police and law enforcement agencies will be offered a necessary and necessary tool to strongly crack down on transitional crime, thus closing a space that has existed for years. This will affect the preservation and strengthening of security not only of the Republic of Kosovo, but of the entire region and Europe. The agreement creates co-operation relations between Kosovo law enforcement agencies represented by Kosovo Police and EUROOPOL in support of Kosovo and EU member states for preventing and fighting serious crimes. The agreement signed today is the basic agreement until two additional memorandums are expected to be signed for the implementation of this” agreement, he said.

Among other things, the minister said that very soon the liaison official from Kosovo police is expected to be sent to the headquarters of this agency in The Hague.

While the chief of the EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova stressed that this agreement would not be signed without political will. She called this agreement as asset, where, according to her, negotiations with EUROOPOL will be concluded to initiate actions to prevent serious crimes.

Today's subsignment, which successfully concludes negotiations between EUROOPOL and Kosovo law enforcement authorities, to combat serious crimes and will no doubt be a major asset that will support you in these efforts. After the agreement is enacted, this new level of co-operation will be important in dealing with cases and crime affecting both the EU and Kosovo. As is terrorism, specifically organised crime sharing information with Kosovo law enforcement agencies. The benefits of this agreement are bilateral, as in Kosovo's law enforcement agencies, as in EUROOPOL”, Apostolova has said.

According to Apostoloves, the agreement will multiply contacts with all levels, and effective co-operation is vital for achieving key elements that are in common plan against terrorism and organised crime.

While Rashit Qalaj, director general of the Kosovo Police, called it among the greatest achievements. According to him, the PK day is entering into co-operation with high levels.

This agreement, which is signed today, provides even greater opportunities for exchange of information, investigations and joint operations with other states. Prevention and combating dangers and threats from terrorism and violent extremism, as well as prevention and fighting by organised trans-border crime and other crimes. Dangers from crime continue to evolve, criminals exploit ever more advanced methods and technology to evade justice... Police today have reached 94 police co-operation agreements that are assessing the implementation of the highest international standards of personal data, the show of the police organisation's maturity, but also a guarantee that we will be an organisation that responds to legal requirements, as well as the requirements and needs of EuroOPOL”, Qalaj stressed.

The chief of the Kosovo Police, said this agreement would enable direct co-operation with EUROOPOL and EU states.