Andorra signs Europol agreement to exchange criminal information directly and securely
Access to the SIENA network will allow Andorran police to share operational data with the European agency
Andorra’s police signed an agreement with Europol on Tuesday, 15 September, that will connect the force to SIENA, the agency’s secure information exchange network.
The memorandum of understanding will enable direct communication with European and international law enforcement agencies and strengthen operational cooperation against organised crime.
Andorran Police Director Bruno Lasne and Europol’s Acting Executive Director Jürgen Ebner signed the agreement at the agency’s headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands, according to a statement from the Andorran police.
The ceremony was also attended by Andorra’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Vicenç Mateu, and Francesc Almendros, head of the International Police Cooperation Office. Following the signing, the delegations held a working meeting to discuss technical and operational arrangements.
Secure information sharing 24 hours a day
The SIENA connection will allow Andorran police to securely exchange police information, operational intelligence and suspect data 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once connected, the force will have a secure channel for communicating with Europol and its partners. It will also be able to exchange information bilaterally with law enforcement agencies represented at Europol, without the agency’s direct involvement.
This will help information flow between authorities in different countries and strengthen coordination in cross-border investigations.
A network of more than 300 liaison officers
Europol’s headquarters hosts more than 300 liaison officers representing over 50 countries and organisations. These officers connect their national authorities with the law enforcement bodies associated with the agency.
Access to SIENA will provide Andorra with a secure communication channel to this international community. According to the figures cited in the statement, more than 3,800 competent authorities from the EU and third countries are connected to the platform.
Building on the 2021 agreement
The memorandum expands the cooperation established under a working arrangement signed in 2021, which focused mainly on strategic and technical matters. The new agreement strengthens the operational side of the relationship through direct information sharing.
The contacts that paved the way for this cooperation date back to a bilateral meeting held in Dubai in 2018, during INTERPOL’s General Assembly.
Europol supports investigations and the coordination of joint operations between police forces, while also analysing international criminal networks and crime trends. Its priority areas include organised crime, cyberattacks, online fraud, drug and weapons trafficking, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering and terrorism.