EMPACT stands for the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats
EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) is a security initiative driven by EU Member States to identify, prioritise and address threats posed by organised and serious international crime.
EMPACT brings together a broad range of multidisciplinary professionals from Member States and third countries to take concrete actions against criminal networks.
It introduces an integrated approach to EU internal security, involving measures that range from external border controls, police, customs and judicial cooperation to information management, innovation, training, prevention and the external dimension of internal security, as well as public-private partnerships where appropriate.
Participants include law enforcement authorities, the judiciary, EU agencies, customs and tax offices and private partners. With EMPACT, every year over 200 operational actions are carried out in targeted key crime areas.
For more information on the evolution of EMPACT please visit EU Policy Cycle - EMPACT | Europol (europa.eu) or alternatively download the EMPACT information leaflet
EMPACT operates in four-year cycles. Every four years, Europol produces the European Union Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU SOCTA), based on input provided by Member States and other stakeholders, including Eurojust. The EU SOCTA identifies the major criminal threats affecting the Europe[1]an Union and sets out potential crime priorities.
The EU SOCTA is then used by the European Commission and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union to advise Justice and Home Affairs ministers so they adopt the EU crime priorities being fought by EMPACT over the following four years.
A multi-annual strategic plan and set of goals are drawn up based on these key priorities to form the basis of Operational Action Plans (OAPs).
For each OAP, so-called drivers and co-drivers are appointed who oversee the planning with assistance from national coordinators. Concrete actions are organised for the particular targeted crime areas, leading to joint operational actions days or weeks.
The process is constantly monitored and fully evaluated at the end of each cycle.
By building on knowledge and expertise from a diverse range of partners, various insights are taken on board, facilitating a multifaceted approach. For instance, in operations against human trafficking, the expertise of specialist non-governmental organisations can play an important role. Depending on assessments, EMPACT can have a preventive or repressive character.
By improving cross-border cooperation, EMPACT helps build trust between partners as they gain familiarity with each other and their specific fields of expertise. This leads to continuity in crime fighting between participants and between countries. Due to its long[1]term approach, EMPACT provides insights into patterns in certain crime areas. It also furthers knowledge on the persistence and backgrounds of certain criminal phenomena, feeding into the intelligence-led principle of the platform
EMPACT stands for the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats
EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) is a security initiative driven by EU Member States to identify, prioritise and address threats posed by organised and serious international crime.
EMPACT brings together a broad range of multidisciplinary professionals from Member States and third countries to take concrete actions against criminal networks.
It introduces an integrated approach to EU internal security, involving measures that range from external border controls, police, customs and judicial cooperation to information management, innovation, training, prevention and the external dimension of internal security, as well as public-private partnerships where appropriate.
Participants include law enforcement authorities, the judiciary, EU agencies, customs and tax offices and private partners. With EMPACT, every year over 200 operational actions are carried out in targeted key crime areas.
For more information on the evolution of EMPACT please visit EU Policy Cycle - EMPACT | Europol (europa.eu) or alternatively download the EMPACT information leaflet