Six European countries call for global approach to drug crime

An international summit on the fight against organised crime, particularly drug crime, took place on Monday at the Port House in Antwerp. The meeting of ministers and top officials from Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain resulted in a joint declaration calling for more European and global cooperation in several areas.

There is a consensus that Europe needs to act more as one, especially in relation to non-European countries involved in the issue. The six European countries already cooperate in the fight against organised crime, but they are calling on the European institutions to do much more.

"We want to reach very concrete agreements with our European colleagues," said Interior minister ​ Annelies Verlinden before the talks. The agreements include creating a new platform to exchange information on best practices, corruption and drug seizures in ports.

Monday's agreement also builds on the agreement signed this year by the Netherlands, Belgium and five major international shipping companies to combat organised crime in the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. This includes using smart containers, screening employees, mutual exchange of information and working towards further international security standards in the global fight against criminal practices and drug smuggling.

The action points in the declaration are to be implemented over the next three years. In addition, the participants see opportunities to expand cooperation, including a coordinated approach to port security and "tailor-made" extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements between Europe and countries where drugs originate or where drug criminals seek shelter.

 

© AFP PHOTO VALERIA MONGELLI / © BELGA VIDEO TIJS VANDERSTAPPEN

Related news

Website preview
Major ports and Europol focus on cooperation against organised crime
European police organisation Europol has stressed the need for cross-border cooperation in its first joint report with the ports of Antwerp...
belganewsagency.eu
Website preview
Belgium's war on drugs: More incineration capacity for seized cocaine and appointment of drugs commissioner
The capacity for burning cocaine in Flanders will be increased to 20 tonnes per week, if necessary. Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir announced this on Friday. Meanwhile, Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden informed that a drugs commissioner would be appointed.
www.belganewsagency.eu
Website preview
Global supply of cocaine at record high, Belgium one of Europe's largest import centres (UN)
Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany have become the main import centres for cocaine in Western Europe. This was reaffirmed in a report presented by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna on Thursday.
www.belganewsagency.eu

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About belganewsagency.eu

Belga News Agency delivers dependable, rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media. The information covers all sectors, from politics, economics and finance to social affairs, sports and culture, not to mention entertainment and lifestyle.

Every day, our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories, dozens of online information items, plus audio and video bulletins, all in both national languages. Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language.

For public institutions, businesses and various organisations that need reliable information, Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs.

Contact

Arduinkaai 29 1000 Brussels

www.belganewsagency.eu