Response to organised crime must be international - Polish minister
Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has called on strengthening EU security services including the border watchdog Frontex and the law enforcement agency Europol.
At the 16th meeting of the Europol Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group held in Warsaw on Monday, the minister reiterated the three priorities of Poland's EU Council presidency, which include civil protection, counteracting illegal immigration, and combating organised crime.
According to Siemoniak, the EU security agencies such as Europol and Frontex "should have more tools, more support from the member states, and more authority to initiate actions."
"It is clear considering that the crime is international, so the response should also be international."
The minister cited a potential threat of increased arms trafficking and assaults that would follow the end of the war in Ukraine.
"Arms in the hands of criminals would lead to growing brutality of crimes, robberies and murders," he said. "If we won't confront it and nip it in the bud, we will see an increase of negative incidents in many areas." (PAP)
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