The 148th meeting of the Europol Management Board opens in Nicosia

On 22 June 2026, the opening of the 148th meeting of the Europol Management Board took place at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Nicosia. The event coincided with the end of Cyprus’ six-month presidency of the Council of the EU and its 18-month mandate as vice-chair of the agency’s board. The meeting of the relevant authorities was devoted to coordinating efforts in the face of current geopolitical shifts, technological challenges and the expansion of transnational criminal networks.

The main topics and challenges raised at the meeting:

— Technological transformation and artificial intelligence. Cyprus Minister of Justice and Public Order Costas Fitiris stressed that the integration of AI, advanced data analysis and new mobile applications is radically changing the methods used by law enforcement agencies. Europol helps member states effectively implement these tools while strictly complying with the EU’s core principles and legal standards. Cyprus Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis added that cross-border criminal threats have become faster and more complex, so no country can effectively confront them alone without information exchange and the agency’s expert support.

— Results of the Cypriot presidency. Europol’s acting executive director, Jürgen Ebner, expressed gratitude to Nicosia for the key achievements of the past six months. These included the launch of the European Centre for Combating Illegal Migration (opened on 1 April 2026 in The Hague, with a focus on financial investigations and data analysis), the publication of a strategic report on the most dangerous criminal syndicates in the EU, as well as strengthened joint parliamentary oversight. The issue of migration routes in the Eastern Mediterranean remains critically important for the Cypriot side.

— The transformation of Europol’s leadership. The current meeting is taking place during a transitional period for the agency. Catherine De Bolle officially stepped down as executive director on 1 May 2026 after eight years at the helm. Jürgen Ebner is currently serving as acting head, and the appointment of a new permanent director by the Council of the EU is scheduled for the end of 2026. Dimitris Dimitriou, co-chair of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group, recalled the results of the February session in Nicosia and said that the next round of interparliamentary discussions on counterterrorism, cybercrime and drug trafficking will take place in early November 2026 in Brussels.