The objective of the Office is to support and strengthen action by the competent authorities of the Member States and their mutual cooperation in preventing and combating organised crime, terrorism and other forms of serious crime affecting two or more Member States.

And the Office shall also act as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting in accordance with Council Decision 2005/511/JHA of 12 July 2005 on protecting the euro against counterfeiting, by designating the Office as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting. The Office may also encourage the coordination of measures carried out in order to fight euro counterfeiting by the competent authorities of the Member States or in the context of Joint Investigation Teams, where appropriate in liaison with Union entities and third States' bodies. Upon request, the Office may financially support investigations of euro counterfeiting.

the organisation and equipment of those authorities by facilitating the provision of technical support between the Member States,

the training of members of their competent authorities, where appropriate in cooperation with the European Police College (CEPOL),

Additionally, assist Member States through support, advice and research in the following areas:

to provide strategic intelligence to assist and promote the efficient and effective use of the resources available at national and Union level for operational activities and the support of such activities.

To develop specialist knowledge of the investigative procedures of the competent authorities of the Member States and to provide advice on investigations,

to prepare threat assessments, strategic analyses and general situation reports relating to its objective, including organised crime threat assessments.

to provide intelligence and analytical support to Member States in connection with major international events,

to ask the competent authorities of the Member States concerned to initiate, conduct or coordinate investigations and to suggest the setting up of joint investigation teams in specific cases,

to aid investigations in the Member States, in particular by forwarding all relevant information to the national units,

to notify the competent authorities of the Member States without delay, via the national unit, of information concerning them and of any connections identified between criminal offences,

The Office's competence shall cover organised crime, terrorism and other forms of serious crime affecting two or more Member States in such a way as to require a common approach by the Member States owing to the scale, significance and consequences of the offences.

Additionally: Internal Audit Function (IAF) and Data Protection Officer (DPO) — functionally independent, associated with the line organisation (established based on the Europol Council Decision).

The Director leads the Office and is accountable to the Management Board in respect of the performance of his/her duties.

The Director is assisted by three Deputy Directors appointed for a four-year period extendable once.

Director appointed by the Council, acting by qualified majority, from a list of at least three candidates presented by the Management Board, for a four-year period (may be extended for not more than four years).

One delegate (and alternate) from each Member State and from the Commission.

Total number of staff made available according to establishment plan: 453 (temporary agents), plus 25 seconded national experts and 78 contract agents (including 6 local staff).

Resources made available to the Office in 2010

Products and services 2010