Minimising the negative effects of Denmark's departure from Europol

Commission President Juncker, European Council President Tusk, and Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen today signed a declaration in which they agree on the need for operational arrangements, minimising the negative impact of Denmark’s departure from Europol.

Today’s declaration follows the outcome of the referendum in Denmark on 3 December 2015. The EU and Denmark agree that specific operational arrangements are needed to minimize the negative effects of the Danish departure from Europol on 1 May 2017. These Denmark-specific arrangements, which should be in place by 1 May 2017 or as rapidly as possible thereafter, should ensure a sufficient level of operational cooperation, including exchange of relevant data, without equalling full membership of Europol. In the joint declaration, the European Commission and Denmark promise to initiate the necessary legal procedure and take all necessary actions as rapidly as possible.