"The complexity of the threats we face, particularly in this age of technology, require strong cross-border law enforcement co-operation," Rob Wainwright, Europol’s Executive Director, told over 550 police chiefs and senior law enforcement representatives from all over the world gathered at Europol’s headquarters for the 2017 European Police Chiefs Convention, EPCC.

''Only by working together across traditional boundaries, and by enhancing the exchange of information and expertise, can we efficiently combat transnational criminal groups and terrorists. The 2017 EPCC, with an incredibly strong representation from the international law enforcement community, provides a unique platform for the EU member states and partner countries to strengthen our co-operation and to tackle together the biggest challenges facing law enforcement today," he said.

Co-hosted by Europol and the Estonian Police in the context of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU, this year’s convention was the largest ever gathering of police chiefs and senior representatives from law enforcement authorities since the first EPCC organised by Europol in 2011.

The event saw the participation of high-level representatives from the EU member states, as well as 23 non-EU countries. Representatives from six EU organisations (European Commission, Council of the European Union, European Border and Coast Guard Agency, European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, European Union Intellectual Property Office and European Union Naval Force Mediterranean), eight international institutions (INTERPOL, Euromed Police, World Customs Organisation, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime), alongside experts from the private sector and academia, also attended the event.

Participants discussed the main issues concerning the security of the EU and beyond, including the spread of terrorist and violent extremist propaganda online and law enforcement’s response; the use of financial intelligence as a critical tool for successful counter-terrorism and organised crime investigations; crime in the age of technology; cyber crime and migrant smuggling.