Catalan police exclusion from Europol ‘can compromise’ European security, warns Eurocop
Politicizing security puts citizens at risk. The Catalan police
force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, should have access to Europol databases
and forums just like any other competent security authority in Europe,
said the president of Eurocop, Àngels Bosch, in an interview with the
CNA. Following the outrage in Catalonia that the Basque police force,
Ertzaitza, was granted access to Europol by the Spanish government while
the Mossos were kept out, the European police union leader said this
can “compromise” Europe’s security. “A lack of commitment between
different security forces, a lack of coordination, or subpar
communication and exchange of information can compromise the whole
European area,” she explained.
Mossos d’Esquadra agents are the “competent” police force in
Catalonia, including in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
“Europol should be able to maintain direct contact with every competent
authority on security in every member state,” said Àngels Bosch, who is
also vice secretary general of the police union in Catalonia. In fact,
the European police union has “lobbied for years” to achieve this, she
said.
“A large part of the border territory between Spain and France is in
Catalonia, and the Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan police, is the
competent authority, so it’s only normal that it have access to Europol
forums,” the union leader added. According to Bosch, agents “do not
understand” why the Mossos and the Basque police are treated differently
when it comes to accessing Europol information.
