The Cyprus House of Representatives will host the 18th Meeting of the Europol Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group in Nicosia, on 4 and 5 February, in the framework of the Cyprus EU Presidency.
The meeting will be attended by delegations from the parliaments of the EU member states, the European Parliament and observers.
On Wednesday, 4 February, a closed Troika meeting will be held at the Filoxenia Conference Center.
House Speaker Annita Demetriou will address the participants.
The proceedings will be co-chaired by the Head of the Cyprus Delegation to the Europol Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group, Demetris Demetriou and the Head of the European Parliament Delegation, Javier Zarzalejos.
Cyprus delegation includes MPs Nikos Kettiros, Chrysanthos Savvides and Elias Myrianthous.
During the Meeting, the Executive Director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle, will present Europol’s recent activities and the European Data Protection Supervisor, Wojciech Wiewiórowski, will present issues of his competence that are relevant to the functioning of the Agency.
The programme includes a special session on strengthening Europol’s capabilities and supervision in the context of the expected new Regulation.
A cultural event and an official dinner will follow, hosted in honor of the participants, by the Speaker of the House.
Two parliamentary scrutiny sessions will be held on Thursday, 5 February. The first will focus on Europol’s role in preventing and combating migrant smuggling, with the keynote speaker being the Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection Dr. Nikolas A. Ioannides, as well as representatives of the Cyprus Police and Europol.
The second session will focus on economic and financial crime and Europol's cooperation with European bodies and mechanisms, such as the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), Eurojust, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Authority for the Combating of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA), with presentations by Europol and the European Commission.
(Source: CNA)
