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Today the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) and Europol signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formally establish cooperation for exchange of information, expertise and best practices in the areas of ICT activities and services, research, training and strategic-administrative matters.  

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by the heads of the two agencies, Krum GARKOV from eu-LISA and Rob Wainwright from Europol,  establishes the framework for regular cooperation based on common interests and objectives. eu-LISA and Europol may cooperate in matters concerning the development, testing, implementation and maintenance of ICT related services as well as provide advice in technical, operational and ICT security linked questions.  Cooperation between the two agencies includes also the sharing of findings in research initiatives on IT and cyber security, standardisation, use of biometrics and incident analysis. eu-LISA and Europol may also cooperate to develop and provide training courses to Member States as well as to the staff of both, eu-LISA and Europol, making use of shared training materials and platforms.

The Executive Director of eu-LISA Krum GARKOV emphasised: "Cooperation between eu-LISA and Europol is well established as Europol is an observer in the highest governing body of eu-LISA, the Management Board. Signing today the Memorandum of Understanding between our agencies is a clear response to the request from Member States to intensify operational cooperation using the potential of Information and Communication Technologies' innovations and enhance the role of the EU agencies. We are sure that close cooperation between eu-LISA and Europol will create synergies and added value to the expertise and technical support and services that we provide to the EU and the Member States in order to meet the continuously growing needs and expectations in the best possible way."

Background

The European Agency, eu-LISA, was established to manage large scale information systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. It fulfils the operational management tasks for the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), Visa Information System (VIS) and Eurodac. The Agency thereby supports the implementation of the EU's border management, asylum and migration policies. eu-LISA is responsible for keeping all the IT systems under its control permanently functional in order to allow continuous and uninterrupted exchange of data between national authorities. eu-LISA ensures that it applies the highest levels of information security and data protection to the information entrusted to it. The seat of the Agency is in Tallinn (Estonia), the operational management is carried out in Strasbourg (France) with the business continuity technical site in Sankt Johann im Pongau (Austria). In 2015 eu-LISA carried out in close cooperation with MSs the Smart Borders Pilot testing phase to test new technologies on the EU borders and provide the decision-makers with information about the feasibility of deploying biometric identifiers at the Schengen external borders.

European Union's law enforcement agency Europol assists the EU Member States in their fight against serious international crime and terrorism. The agency uses its unique information capabilities and the expertise of its staff to identify and track the most dangerous criminal and terrorist networks in Europe. Europol also acts as a major centre of expertise in key fields of law enforcement activity and as a European centre for strategic intelligence on organised crime. 

 

for media requests:

Head of External and Internal Communication

e-mail: press [at] eulisa [dot] europa [dot] eu (press[at]eulisa[dot]europa[dot]eu)

for general information

info [at] eulisa [dot] europa [dot] eu (info[at]eulisa[dot]europa[dot]eu)

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