ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses whether the European Union (EU) could enhance the use of Europol as a way to reduce the existing diversity of communication channels available for law enforcement authorities. It examines whether Europol's legal framework offers strong data protection rules that could inspire the future data protection legal framework at the international level. Europol is principally a hub of information, which interconnects national law enforcement activities within the EU, coordinates joint operations and receives and distributes information. Europol offers strong data protection and data security safeguards in the processing of data. Regarding the data access that liaison officers have to the national law enforcement's databases, it varies from one country to another. Law enforcement authorities of Member States can decide not to involve Europol in a criminal investigation by using other communication channels such as the Swedish initiative and Prum decision.
