You're reading: Rada ratifies Ukraine and Europol cooperation agreement

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, has ratified the agreement between Ukraine and the European Police Office on operational and strategic cooperation.

Some 234 Rada deputies voted for corresponding bill No. 0152 at a meeting on July 12.

The document enacts the ratification of the agreement between Ukraine and the European Police Office on operational and strategic cooperation, signed in The Hague on Dec. 14, 2016.

As noted in the explanatory note, the ratification of the agreement will significantly expand the format of cooperation, exchange of operational information in criminal proceedings. It will also allow participation in joint activities to investigate a relatively wider range of crimes, locate persons involved in committing crimes, as well as participate in the analysis of intelligence reports and set up joint investigation teams.

First Deputy Chief of the National Police of Ukraine Vadym Troyan says the ratification of the agreement will provide for strategic cooperation and prompt engagement in criminal cases between respective states.

“This will allow the rapid exchange of information in criminal proceedings, participation in joint events, surveillance of organized criminal groups or migrant trafficking across Ukraine to Europe, location of persons involved in committing crimes, crime lords and crime bosses, and individuals on the wanted list who hide in Europe from Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies and vice versa,” Troyan said.