Supporting AQUAPOL action 2020-2021

ended

Created in 2002, AQUAPOL is the European network for law-enforcement cooperation on water (“waterborne law enforcement”). It strives for a safe, secure and environmental friendly transport over water, by establishing effective cross-border law-enforcement cooperation on the main EU inland waterway corridors, in the ports and on territorial seas. It presently counts 21 member organisations from 15 different countries (EU Member States, UK and Switzerland), two observer members (from Portugal and Estonia) and one partner (the US Coast Guard). The network is meant to further expand in the near future. AQUAPOL’s missions are to promote cooperation among national waterborne law enforcement authorities and ensure their representation before European institutions involved in rule and policy making for water transport. To that end, AQUAPOL: - organises cross-border operational activities, including at times various control disciplines (police, labour inspection, customs, immigration, criminal financial section, human trafficking section, etc..) working collaboratively; - acts as a platform for exchanging on good practices among waterborne law-enforcement authorities; - provides its members with digital tools to make controls more effective: - TDW - AQUATRACK (including 3 applications: IBISWEB, MARSEC and MARPOL) - represents the interests of waterborne law enforcement authorities with international institutions in charge of rule and policy making for maritime and inland shipping; - works in close cooperation with a number of strategic governmental and social partners - builds partnerships with other European programmes on law enforcement (esp. EUROPOL).