The European Commission will work to ensure that European citizens are safer and more secure, and that Europe has the means to maintain peace through credible deterrence. These last few years have been a sharp reminder about how fragile peace is. They have also been a wakeup call for Europe to give itself the means to protect itself and deter potential adversaries.

Organised crime is a threat to European citizens, businesses, state institutions as well as the economy as a whole. Criminals easily operate across borders, which creates a need for consistent European–level action. The EU continuously adapts its response in relation to the growing complexity of the situation, including the development of specialised EU agencies, such as Europol, Eurojust and CEPOL.

Trafficking in human beings is a crime that should have no place in today’s society. It destroys individuals’ lives by depriving people of their dignity, freedom and fundamental rights. It is often a violent crime committed by organised crime networks.

Firearms are the lifeblood of organised crime in Europe, as elsewhere in the world. According to the 2021 SOCTA, 60% of the criminal networks active in the EU use violence as part of their criminal businesses. To intimidate and coerce their victims, organised crime groups typically use firearms. Firearms facilitate the trade in illegal drugs and trafficking in human beings. The supply of stolen, smuggled and converted (replica) guns fuels urban gang conflict.

The current drugs situation in the EU requires comprehensive and multisector responses across security, health and social policy covering the law enforcement, scientific, environmental, socio-political, technological and international dimensions of the issue. A people-centred and human rights-oriented approach are the cornerstones of EU drugs policy.

Financial investigations are a crucial tool to detect money laundering, terrorist financing and other serious crimes. They can provide new leads to investigators to uncover criminal activities and map out entire criminal networks, including their transnational ramifications, and valuable evidence to prosecute suspected criminals and to identify and confiscate criminal assets.

Counterfeiting, piracy and infringements of intellectual property rights are constantly growing phenomena, which have reached a global dimension. Fake products constitute a serious threat to national economies and governments, as well as to the health and safety of EU citizens.

Organised crime is one of the greatest threats to the security of the European Union. According to Europol’s 2021 Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment, 70% of criminal groups operating in the European Union are active in more than three EU countries, and 65% of them are composed of members of multiple nationalities. The recent major investigations of EncroChat, Sky ECC and ANOM illustrate the transnational reach and threat of organised crime in the EU.

Corruption plays a key role in the way organised crime groups operate. Corruption facilitates the infiltration of organised crime networks in all sectors of our societies, including politics and law enforcement. It serves them to influence decision-making processes in their favour. Corruption also helps criminals to have access to privilege information about looming law enforcement actions and operations.

EU and international measures to protect endangered species from illegal trade.

The Analysis and Research Team (ART) is the Council's in-house research service. It produces a wide range of papers and research publications from current geopolitical developments to longer-term trends such as the green and digital transitions.

Law enforcement authorities from EU member states, and EU agencies work together to combat serious and organised crime in Europe.

The documents that help shape new EU legislation.

The Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) is a decentralised EU agency that will coordinate national authorities to ensure the correct and consistent application of EU rules.

CEPOL is an agency of the European Union dedicated to develop, implement and coordinate training for law enforcement officials.

The Agency works with organisations and businesses to strengthen trust in the digital economy, boost the resilience of the EU’s infrastructure, and, ultimately, keep EU citizens digitally safe. It does this by sharing knowledge, developing staff and structures, and raising awareness. The EU Cybersecurity Act has strengthened the agency’s work.

Illicit drug use and trafficking are global issues, threatening the health and security of EU citizens. Today's drug situation is complex, with potent substances being produced, trafficked and sold on an unprecedented scale. The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) plays a critical role in responding to this phenomenon.

The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) is the EU’s foreign and security policy think tank. It provides critical analysis and insights to inform the EU’s strategic choices.

Eurojust helps EU member countries combat terrorism and serious organised crime by offering a number of services, including: coordinating investigations and prosecutions involving at least 2 countries; helping to resolve conflicts of jurisdiction; facilitating the drafting and implementation of EU legal instruments, such as European Arrest Warrants, European Investigation Orders and confiscation and freezing orders / certificates.

Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol’s mission is to support its Member States in preventing and combating all forms of serious international and organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations.

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, supports EU Member States and Schengen-associated countries in the management of the EU’s external borders and the fight against cross-border crime.