In November 2024, Luis Cordero, Undersecretary of Chile’s Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, and Catherine De Bolle, the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation – Europol, signed a Liaison Officer Agreement and a memorandum of understanding on a secure line connection between Chile and Europol.
The signatures of these two legal instruments put into practice the Working Arrangement between Chile and Europol, which is in force since 1 May 2021. The SIENA Memorandum of Understanding will allow Chile to establish a connection with the Agency, permitting a secure exchange of sensitive information.
Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, said, “Europol celebrates a significant milestone in its partnership with Chile, marking a new chapter in our collective efforts to combat international crime threats.
“This achievement underscores the strength of our bilateral cooperation with Latin America. It also shows our shared commitment to enhancing security and efficiency in addressing global criminal challenges.”
A SIENA connection would enable law enforcement authorities from Chile to be connected with over 3 000 law enforcement agencies from over 70 countries and international entities, facilitating bilateral communication both with and without the involvement of Europol.
The Liaison Officer Agreement allows the secondment of liaison officer(s) from Chile to Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Currently, Europol hosts a network of over 300 liaison officers from EU Member States, third countries and international organisations.
Europol’s mission is to support EU Member States in preventing and combatting all forms of serious international and organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism. It serves as the centre for law enforcement cooperation, analytical expertise and criminal intelligence in Europe.
Luis Cordero, Undersecretary of Chile’s Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, said, “These legal instruments are key to put into practice the Working Agreement and represent a decisive step in our strategy to combat organised crime and strengthen public security.
“The implementation of the secure communication channel will enable our police forces to act more swiftly and accurately, ensuring an effective response to transnational threats.”
