Organised crime. A catalyst in the Europeanisation of national police and prosecution agencies?

Book abstract:

This book looks at the effects that EU instruments have had on the structure and organisation of law enforcement agencies. The book examines the role of EU institutions such as the European Anti-Fraud office (OLAF) and Europol and focuses in particular on the recommendations of the 1997 EU Action Plan on Organised Crime and its demand for EU Member States to co-ordinate in exchanging intelligence.

The book provides an introductory chapter that addresses the question of convergence and provides a comparative analysis of Europeanisation trends in criminal justice organisations. This is followed by case studies of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Each chapter examines in detail the definitions of organised crime in the different countries, the organisation of the public prosecution services and law enforcement agencies, special agencies and intelligence services. Also examined are international co-ordination and any reforms that are taking place. The book concludes that reforms are driven by domestic considerations rather than through EU incentives. However, there is greater exchange of information and co-ordination between police and prosecution agencies of different Member States.

The chapters are provided by academics from a range of European universities. Monica den Boer is Associate Professor of Public Administration, Centre for Law, Public Administration and Informatisation, Tilburg University and Visiting Professor at the European Institute of Public Administration in the Netherlands.