Landmark agreement facilitates intelligence sharing, joint efforts against human trafficking, drug smuggling, and organized crime
The Hague, Netherlands – April 10, 2025 – Europol and Egypt’s Ministry of Interior have signed a landmark Working Arrangement to intensify cooperation in the fight against serious and organized crime, marking a significant step forward in European Union–North Africa security relations.
The agreement, signed on April 9, lays out a new framework for operational collaboration between Egypt and the European Union’s law enforcement agency. The deal targets major transnational threats such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, child exploitation, and terrorism—issues that continue to challenge regional stability and security on both sides of the Mediterranean.
“This is a significant milestone in our shared fight against international crime,” said Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle in a press statement following the signing. “With Egypt’s active participation, we can strengthen joint efforts to dismantle the criminal networks that prey on the vulnerable and destabilize our societies.”
Structured Cooperation Without Personal Data Exchange
The Working Arrangement enables the structured exchange of non-personal data between Europol and Egypt’s law enforcement authorities, creating new pathways for intelligence-sharing and operational coordination. While it stops short of allowing the transfer of personal data—such as names or biometric details—it opens the door for future collaboration on a deeper scale.
Under the agreement, Egypt will assign a dedicated liaison officer to Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, joining a growing international network of more than 300 officers from over 50 countries. These officers play a key role in facilitating real-time cooperation, analysis, and cross-border investigations from within the heart of the EU’s policing hub.
The arrangement includes strong safeguards designed to uphold fundamental rights and data protection principles, aligned with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Europol’s internal regulatory framework.
“This arrangement balances operational needs with legal integrity,” said an EU official familiar with the negotiations. “It sets a foundation for effective cooperation while adhering to the highest standards of privacy and human rights.”
Responding to Growing Security Challenges
The agreement comes at a time of increasing urgency over transnational crime in the Mediterranean region. Human trafficking networks and migrant smuggling routes continue to exploit instability in North Africa, funneling people into Europe under perilous and illegal conditions. Meanwhile, the proliferation of narcotics and weapons through regional supply chains poses a growing threat to public safety and state security.
Egypt, geographically positioned at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, plays a pivotal role in both migration flows and counterterrorism initiatives. Its collaboration with Europol is expected to bolster joint investigations and real-time intelligence exchanges related to cross-border criminal activity.
“Egypt is a strategic partner in Europe’s Southern Neighbourhood,” said EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner. “This agreement enhances our collective ability to detect, disrupt, and dismantle the networks fueling illegal migration and organized crime.”
Brunner noted that the deal would contribute to stronger internal security across the EU by creating more robust links with frontline states like Egypt that are often the first to detect emerging threats.
Years in the Making: From Dialogue to Action
Negotiations for a formal security arrangement between Egypt and Europol have been underway since 2017, reflecting years of growing trust and operational engagement. During that time, both parties have engaged in multiple joint initiatives, training programs, and intelligence exchanges on issues ranging from narcotics enforcement to cybercrime.
The finalization of the Working Arrangement is the result of sustained diplomatic and law enforcement dialogue under the broader umbrella of the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood Policy. Egypt has been identified as a priority partner in this regional framework, with EU funding and institutional support helping to modernize and professionalize elements of its security infrastructure.
“This partnership reflects a mutual understanding of shared threats and shared responsibilities,” said Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, a senior official in Egypt’s Ministry of Interior. “We look forward to working closely with Europol to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and our region.”
Practical Implications and Future Outlook
The presence of an Egyptian liaison officer in The Hague will serve as a critical link in day-to-day operational coordination. Europol’s platform, which integrates law enforcement data from all 27 EU Member States and international partners, allows liaison officers to identify trends, cross-reference investigations, and coordinate responses quickly.
Officials say the agreement will be particularly useful in tracking criminal networks that operate across multiple jurisdictions, such as smuggling rings that transport narcotics through the Sahel into North Africa, then on to Europe via the Mediterranean.
While the current agreement does not permit the exchange of personal data, future agreements or addendums could expand the scope of cooperation, pending compliance with EU data protection standards and third-country adequacy assessments.
“It’s an important first step with room to grow,” said a European law enforcement source. “This arrangement sets up the trust and legal framework necessary for deeper collaboration down the line.”
Broader Impacts on EU Migration and Security Policy
The deal with Egypt is also likely to have broader implications for the EU’s ongoing efforts to manage migration and border security. Egypt remains a key transit country for migrants heading toward Europe, and cooperation on law enforcement is seen as complementary to existing migration management programs funded by the EU.
Rights groups have occasionally raised concerns about the human rights records of security forces in the region, including in Egypt. As such, EU officials have emphasized that the agreement contains oversight mechanisms and maintains alignment with the bloc’s values on human dignity and due process.
“Security cooperation cannot come at the expense of rights,” said a spokesperson for the European Commission. “This arrangement balances pragmatic security needs with principled commitments.”
A Template for Future Partnerships?
As Europol continues to expand its network of partnerships beyond the EU, the Egypt agreement may serve as a template for similar working arrangements with other strategic nations. With crime increasingly transnational and digital in nature, law enforcement agencies are being compelled to look beyond borders and build networks that reflect the realities of globalized crime.
For now, the EU–Egypt partnership marks a turning point in regional law enforcement cooperation and underscores the importance of international collaboration in addressing the complex challenges of 21st-century security.
