The first formal reference to Europol occurs as the European Council EU Council Luxembourg agree to the full establishment of a Central European Criminal Investigations Office

The Treaty on the European Union was signed in Maastricht on 7 February. Member States agreed to consider as a matter of common interests: police cooperation for preventing and combating terrorism, illegal drug trafficking and other serious forms of international crime, in connection with the organisation of a Union-wide information exchange system within a European Police Office (Europol).

Europol Drugs Unit is established by ministerial agreement. 

Europol Drugs Unit (EDU) starts its operations in The Hague with the mandate to assist national police forces in criminal investigations.

Agreement on the Convention establishing Europol under Article K.3 of the Maastricht Treaty

Europol became fully operational on 1 July 1999, following the ratification and adoption by all Member States of the legal acts provided for in the Europol Convention. Europol appointed its first director, Jürgen Storbeck.

Signature of the first cooperation agreements with non-EU Member States (Iceland and Norway)

Signature of the Cooperation Agreement with the United States

Appointment of Max-Peter Ratzel (Germany) as Europol Director 

Europol hosts 100 liaison officers

Appointment of Rob Wainwright (United Kingdom) as Director of Europol 

On 1 January, Europol becomes a full EU Agency within the EU’s competence under the Treaty of Lisbon

Inauguration of the new Europol headquarters by her Majesty Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands   

First annual European Police Chiefs Convention (EPCC)  

Europol supports Norway after a terrorist attack, marking the first time the Agency provides counter-terrorism operational support of this kind.

Europol supports the investigation into the terrorist attack at Burgas airport, Bulgaria.

Europol hosts 200 liaison officers

With the new regulation, Europol's official name is changed to European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation

Appointment of Catherine De Bolle (Belgium) as Executive Director of Europol 
 

Europol is mandated by the Justice and Home Affairs ministers from all the EU Member States to create an Innovation Lab to support the law enforcement community in the area of innovation.

Europol supports investigators in France and the Netherlands in blocking the illegal use of EncroChat encrypted communication by large-scale organised crime groups

Europol launches the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC)

Europol supports investigators in Belgium, France and the Netherlands in blocking the illegal use of Sky ECC encrypted communication by large-scale organised crime groups

Europol launches its Digital Forensics Unit, significantly enhancing its ability to support Member States in processing and analysing digital evidence for law enforcement investigations

Europol creates the Integrated Operational Services (within its Operational & Analysis Centre) to provide cross-cutting support to internal and external stakeholders in relation to the EU interoperability agenda and travel intelligence

The number of law enforcement authorities connected to Europol through SIENA exceeds 3000, from more than 70 countries and international entities

Europol appoints its first Artificial Intelligence Officer to steer the adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies, ensuring they align seamlessly with the agency's mission, as well as with strong data protection safeguards