June 05, 2018•Update: June 06, 2018
By Cansu Dikme
ANKARA
The EU will start talks with eight countries, including Turkey, to strengthen Europol's cooperation with third countries in counterterrorism and organized crimes, the European Commission said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the commission said: “Yesterday, the council approved the commission's proposal to strengthen Europol's cooperation with third countries and fight terrorism and other serious transnational crime more effectively -- an important deliverable under the anti-terrorism package presented by the commission in October 2017.
"The negotiating mandates approved by the council will allow the commission to start talks with eight countries on behalf of the EU -- Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey -- on the exchange of information, including personal data, with Europol.”
When the agreements are reached, Europol and the competent authorities of eight countries will have a legal basis to exchange personal data to prevent and combat terrorism and serious organized crime, according to the commission.
The agreements will also provide assurance for the protection of privacy and fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.
