Cooperation in networks of national specialised units is another effective way of
ensuring operational cooperation across borders. Cross-border cooperation between
national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and national Asset Recovery Offices (AROs)
helps to combat money laundering and to access the illicit proceeds of crime. Similarly,
customs authorities cooperate in the management of risks in the international supply
chain while facilitating legitimate trade.25 Enhanced coordination and cooperation
between Coast Guard Functions performed at national level reinforces maritime security.
Experts from different parts of the enforcement chain in the Member States also
cooperate through various networks to tackle environmental crime. The Commission will
support this approach in other areas.
Police and Customs Cooperation Centres (PCCCs) in border regions bring together on
one site the law enforcement authorities of different Member States. The EU supports the
growing number of PCCCs with co-funding and annual conferences to exchange
experience and best practices. Although most of the information exchanged in PCCCs
does not concern serious and organised crime, it is important that information on such
cases is passed up to the national level and, where appropriate, to Europol.
As regards regional cooperation, the necessity and added value of measures under
Article 89 TFEU relating to the operation of the competent authorities of one Member
State in the territory of another could be considered after evaluating the existing tools,
including hot pursuit and cross-border surveillance.
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters also relies on effective cross-border
instruments. Mutual recognition of judgments and judicial decisions is a key element in
the security framework. Tools like the European Arrest Warrant have proved effective
but other instruments, such as freezing and confiscation of criminal assets, are not yet
used systematically in all appropriate cases. National judges should take advantage of the
European Judicial Network (EJN) for the execution of European Arrest Warrants and
freezing and confiscation orders. The implementation of the European Investigation
Order will add a further essential tool. Member States should use Eurojust more often to
coordinate cross-border investigations and prosecutions. Eurojust can also be a great help
for complex mutual legal assistance requests with countries outside the EU, especially
with the network of the Eurojust contact points.
Finally, establishing the European Public Prosecutor's Office will provide a new
dimension to the specific issue of protecting losses to the EU budget from criminal
activity.
The EU's institutions, agencies and existing cooperation tools already provide an
effective set of instruments to make EU security policy an operational reality. More
synergies between EU agencies, more systematic coordination and full use of tools like
the Joint Investigation Teams, can make a real difference in the prevention, detection and
reaction to security threats.
2.3
Supporting action: training, funding, research and innovation
In addition to information exchange and operational cooperation, the EU provides
support to security-related actions through training, funding and the promotion of
security-related research and innovation. The Commission seeks to target this support in
a strategic and cost-effective way.
25
COM(2014) 527 final of 21.8.2014.
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