EN Official Journal of the European Union C 122/1

COUNCIL DECISION

of 8 March 2018

on the appointment of the Executive Director of Europol

(2018/C 122/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and replacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA (1), and in particular Article 54 thereof,

Acting as the authority vested with the power to appoint the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Directors of Europol,

Whereas:

(1) The term of office of the current Executive Director of Europol has been extended until 1 May 2018, in accordance with Article 73(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/794. It is therefore necessary to appoint a new Executive Director of Europol.

(2) The decision of the Management Board of Europol of 1 May 2017 establishes the rules for the selection, extension of the term of office and removal from office of the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Directors of Europol.

(3) The post has been deemed to be vacant as from 30 July 2017, nine months before the end of the term of office of the current Executive Director of Europol, in accordance with point (a) of Article 3(1) of the decision of the Management Board of Europol of 1 May 2017. A vacancy notice for the post of Executive Director of Europol has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 23 May 2017 (2).

(4) In accordance with Article 54(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/794, a shortlist of candidates has been drawn up by a selection committee (the ‘Selection Committee’) set up by the Management Board. The Selection Committee drew up a duly reasoned report on 19 September 2017.

(5) On the basis of the report of the Selection Committee and in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/794 and the decision of the Management Board of 1 May 2017, the Management Board issued a reasoned opinion on 3 October 2017 on the appointment of the Executive Director of Europol, in which it proposed a shortlist of three candidates suitable for the post to the Council.

(6) On 18 December 2017, the Council selected Ms Catherine DE BOLLE, a Belgian national, as the next Executive Director of Europol, and informed the competent committee of the European Parliament about her selection for the purposes of fourth subparagraph of Article 54(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/794.

(7) On 29 January 2018, the selected candidate appeared before the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (‘LIBE Committee’) and on 1 March 2018, the LIBE Committee gave its opinion in accordance with fourth subparagraph of Article 54(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/794,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Ms Catherine DE BOLLE is hereby appointed as the Executive Director of Europol for the period from 2 May 2018 to 1 May 2022 at grade AD 15.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 8 March 2018. For the Council The President V. RADEV

(1) OJ L 135, 24.5.2016, p. 53.

(2) OJ C 162 A, 23.5.2017, p. 1.