Europol supports the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region in fighting organised crime, including the partner countries; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. This support takes many forms, including funding amounting to EUR 1.8 million and the management of dedicated projects.
Fighting against organised crime in the Eastern Partnership Region
Europol leads the project "Fighting against Organised Crime in the Eastern Partnership Region". The project aims to enhance the operational and strategic capacities of EaP countries in line with EMPACT, to strengthen the links between EaP countries and EU Member States in support of EMPACT; and to increase knowledge and awareness among EaP institutions and relevant authorities on EMPACT.
The project will continue to improve operational cooperation with and between the partner countries and EU Member States. The project also aims to strengthen cooperation with the EU agencies active in the field as part of the EU policy targeting organised and serious international crime, EMPACT. Promoting operational cooperation with the Eastern Partnership region benefits the operational implementation of the EU policy cycle. By aligning with the EU policy cycle, the project will provide the expertise and required coordination in all relevant crime areas.
Through the project, opportunities of mutual benefit with other stakeholders, projects and actions in the Eastern Partnership region will be identified. The project will work with EU delegations, inform them of relevant projects and involve them in the activities taking place in the jurisdictions covered by each delegation.
The project aims to reach law enforcement authorities, the security sector and judiciary and prosecution services from the Eastern Partnership region. The private sector may also be involved where relevant.
Project phases
On 1 January 2025, Europol’s project "Fighting against Organised Crime in the Eastern Partnership Region" entered its second phase, which will run until 31 December 2028. While leading this project, Europol will contribute to reducing crime and make the Eastern Partnership region safer for its citizens. The second phase of the project focuses on consolidating the results achieved in the first phase and strengthening the networks built during this period. It aims to reinforce the cooperation between EU Member States, EU agencies and non-EU countries, as well as to align candidate countries with EU best practices and standards in the fight against organised crime.
Through this project, Europol plays a central role among the Justice and Home Affairs agencies in fighting organised crime within and beyond the EU. During the first phase of the project (July 2020-December 2024), the EU institutions underlined the need to strengthen cooperation with non-EU countries in the fight against organised crime.
Planned Europol activities
Within the framework of the project, Europol will:
- Implement the Low Value Grant scheme which aims to organise strategic and/or operational activities, including those integrated in EMPACT Operational Action Plans upon agreement with the relevant drivers.
- Organise bilateral meetings with partner countries' Single Points of Contact and relevant authorities to identify the law enforcement agencies with which further EMPACT engagement could be promoted.
- Arrange bilateral meetings with the EaP partner countries to further promote EMPACT functioning and opportunities among the relevant law enforcement agencies identified;
- Coordinate operational or strategic meetings between EaP countries, EU Member States and Europol, as well as other relevant partners when needed, to exchange information related to investigations of common interest. These meetings will be organised upon request from the EU Member States or Europol Analysis Projects.
- Support the participation of EaP partners' investigators in relevant Europol activities and conferences, expert meetings, and any other relevant events.
- Organise information sessions for new National Empact Coordinators and entities from partner countries participating in EMPACT.
- Support the involvement of competent authorities from EU Member States in cross-border operational activities in EaP countries in line with EMPACT crime priority areas.
Opportunities for further cooperation with the Eastern Partnership Region
- TOPCOP, an EU-funded project led by the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), of which Europol is an implementing partner;
- UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI);
- EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy with the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine and the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine;
- Other regional projects in the EU Member States and regional and international organisations.
