Recital (4)

To prevent, detect and investigate cross-border serious organised crime and terrorism, coordination and concerted action is necessary. The role of Europol in supporting Member States’ criminal intelligence exchange activities and investigations has evolved significantly through the development of innovative concepts targeting criminal actors that constitute a high risk for security. Such support and cooperation has become increasingly complex and requires specific expertise and resources in which both Member States and Europol need to invest. In view of that, the use of operational task forces enables Member States, with the support of Europol, to conduct joint, coordinated and prioritised criminal intelligence exchange activities, which include exchanging criminal intelligence, the discovery of links and conducting analyses and investigations, notably of criminal networks and groups, as well as of individual criminal actors who constitute a high risk for security. When supporting this flexible, operational and temporary form of cooperation, Europol should be able to make available its analytical, operational, technical, forensic and financial support to the participating Member States. The operational task forces should, as far as possible, be integrated within the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).