Europol Review 2012

We present to you the Europol Review 2012. The aim of this publication is to provide you with an overview of Europol’s work in the past year and the latest developments affecting the agency. The economic crisis has limited the resources available to law enforcement agencies across the EU, but it has certainly not led to a reduction in serious and organised crime. Our latest analysis tells us that there are an estimated 3600 organised crime groups currently active in the EU. They show a tendency to be more international in nature and activity which creates an even greater need for international cooperation in fighting crime. Europol is at the heart of the European Union Member States’ major law enforcement operations to combat international organised crime and terrorism.