New Europol executive director visits Malta

Europol executive director Catherine De Bolle visited Malta on Monday and yesterday. She held meetings with Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Michael Farrugia, Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar, and high-ranking officers within the Malta Police Force.

Farrugia thanked De Bolle for the ongoing cooperation between Europol and the Malta Police Force. He remarked that this cooperation would continue to flourish especially in the further collaboration and training of personnel.

The minister gave an overview of the police’s work and the changes within the force to enhance the sections of the economic crime unit, the cyber crime unit, and the forensic unit. Minister Michael Farrugia also mentioned the strengthening of several operations in the Mediterranean that fall under the umbrella of the European Union in the fight against organised crime.

During the meeting with police officials, discussions revolved around subjects related to criminality locally and along the border. The discussions also focused on further cooperation between Malta and Europol to further combat organised crime and terrorism, especially in the Mediterranean.

Commissioner Cutajar thanked Ms De Bolle for Europol’s assistance and support shown to the Malta Police Force, adding that he looked forward to further cooperation and assistance between the two parties.

De Bolle confirmed the strengthening of further cooperation on border issues to enhance security in the European Union.

De Bolle noted the very good relationship between Malta and Europol and this visit served as an opportunity to work together and support each other more.

The executive director was appointed for a mandate of four years by the European Council, succeeding Rob Wainwright when his term expired in May 2018. Wainwright had recently criticised a lack of cooperation from the Maltese authorities in the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, having said: “While we continue to work closely with the Maltese authorities, there is some room for improvement in this cooperation and we are actively seeking to address this.”

Before this appointment, Catherine De Bolle was the general commissioner of the Belgian federal police.