Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Belgian Candidate for Presidency of Europol | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Brussels-The term of Current Director of European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) Rob Wainwright will come to an end next January as Belgian media in Brussels on Sunday said that the Head of the Belgian Federal Police Force, Catherine De Bolle, is nominated to succeed the current British director, on top of the security apparatus in which all member countries of the European Union participate.

Europol’s mission is to handle criminal intelligence and combat serious international organized crime by means of cooperation between the relevant authorities of the 28 member states. More than 900 people work in the Europol.

De Bolle hopes to head the security agency that provides services in facing major crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, murders and arms trade.

Headquartered in The Hague, the security agency’s importance was lately underscored following the most recent terrorist attacks perpetrated by ISIS militants in several European countries, according to Belgian media in Brussels.

De Bolle, who currently serves as the General Commissioner of the Belgian Federal Police is also a member of the Presidential Office of the Europol and has the necessary expertise in joint security work.

Her term in the Belgian police service was extended in October for five more years, and she told Belgian media that the management of the European police office in The Hague is an opportunity that happens only once in one’s career.

The Belgian government supports De Bolle’s candidacy for the post, especially that there is no other candidate from the EU member states.

In December 2016, Europol warned citizens against plots by ISIS to carry out terrorist attacks in Western Europe in the near future.

In a report issued from the agency’s headquarter, Europol pointed out that ISIS intends to use the same approach it has been using in the Middle East in its planned attacks in Europe; such as booby-trapped cars it uses in Syria and Iraq.