Directeurspost Europol gaat naar Duitser (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - After months of acrimonious wrangling, EU justice ministers finally agreed on Thursday that a German will take on the job as the EU's top policeman.

Max-Peter Ratzel, who until now was head of the German federal police's organised crime unit, will take over the four-year post at the European police agency in The Hague.

Mr Ratzel beat off competitors from France, Spain and Italy.

Admitting that negotiations over the post had been "difficult", Luxembourg justice minister Luc Frieden said "I am very happy that the decision has been made today".

Mr Frieden denied that Mr Ratzel got the job in return for the other candidates being promised top EU posts in the future.

Europol was set up to improve police co-operation between the member states in combating terrorism, illicit traffic in drugs and other forms of international crime.

EU member states often wrangle over who will get which jobs - the next post likely to result in some horse-trading is the head of the new EU borders agency.