Europol National Unit

Return to Greece proved not easy. After a 4 year tour in the occupied Palestinian Territories and after being distant from main police tasks and duties, being back in the Hellenic Police HQ behind a desk seemed like a death penalty and the paperwork (piles of docs) the most lethal and appropriate weapon for the job!

The International Police Cooperation Division of the Hellenic Police HQ became my new ‘Palestine’ and my new home as I used spend for of my early days there.

Fortunately, my boss and the hierarchy of the Hellenic Police had a more sophisticated plan for my case. After an induction and re-adjustment phase in the EU, International Affairs and Missions Deartment of the above mentioned Division, which lasted something more than 3 moths, I was appointed Deputy Director of the Europol National Unit in the same Division.

Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency whose main goal is to help achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of all EU citizens. Europol has its HQ in the Hague – Netherlands and consists of the Member – States and Third Parties National Units. Additionally it has deployed a significant number of Europol Liaison Officers in various International and Regional Organisations and various Locations in Europol Missions.

Europol Headquarters, The Hague, Netherlands

Europol tuned to be the place where I could intergrate my international experience in international relations, peacebuilding policy, security sector reform, consultancy and training with operational activities at the European level related to fighting terrorism and organized crime through intelligence gathering – sharing, analysis, joint operational activities and missions.

As a deputy Director of the Europol National Unit, I was assigned with both a leading / co-directing and a coordinating role.

Amid the day to day Europol operations, I was taksed to represent the Hellenic Police to the various Europol policy and operational meetings, to provide strategic and administrative support and advice to the Hellenic Police Leadership and additionally to guide and supervise the Greek Europol staff in handling the serious and organised crime cases through the Europol systems (SIENA, EIS).

Within the Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) 2014-2017 framework I was responsible at the ENU level for the analysis and of the various AWF and FP reports and the coordination of all actions required for the successful implementation of the specific Operational Action Plans (OAPs) by applying a multiagency approach and cooperation.

SOCTA 2014-2017 EMPACT Priorities

Europol became a significant part of my professional experience; it was the field where my previous international experience merged with intelligence and operations at the European level. Siggnificant security related incidents such as the terrorist attacks in Belgium, Denmark and France; the rise of Islamic extremism in the network; and the growing migration and refugee flows from conflict affected areas, alongside criminal side effects marked my days in Europol.

Very soon I understood the preventing and fighting crime, at all its forms, requires not only a good understanding of its origings – causes and dynamics, but also alongside seriousness and professionalism, genuine cooperation and effective communication.