South Korea has become the tenth country outside of Europe to join the European Union's (EU) law enforcement cooperation agency, which combats terrorism and other international crimes.
On October 6, the National Police Agency (NPA) joined Europol after signing a working-level agreement that was unanimously approved by the 27 EU members. According to the officials, the admittance is the result of police efforts to increase collaboration with Europe since 2017.
Under the terms of the agreement, police can now share crime information and collaborate with Europol member states, which include 17 European and nine non-European countries, as well as international organizations and research institutes. According to the NPA, the partnership will improve police reaction capabilities against worldwide crimes by exchanging experience and training programs, as well as collaborating with Europol agents.
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, NPA chief Kim Chang-yong had planned to visit Europol headquarters in the Hague for a signing ceremony, but instead exchanged the agreement with Europol Commissioner-General Catherine De Bolle through a diplomatic pouch. Europol, the EU's law enforcement organization, was founded in 1992 to support the battle against terrorism, international drug trafficking, and other severe crimes.
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