In July 1999, Europol commenced full operation with the goal of improving the effectiveness and cooperation of European Union member states in preventing and combating serious forms of international organized crime. Europol’s assistance can be requested by a member state when there is factual indication that a given organized criminal group is involved in transnational criminal activities affecting two or more member states. Europol applies an intelligence-led policing perspective to investigations and functions purely in a support capacity. An examination of the work undertaken by Europol for the past 5 years has allowed for an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Europol’s capacity to aid in international police cooperation in Europe. Among Europol’s strengths are its reliable legal framework that protects its work, its information and index systems, and its increasing flow of information. Europol also has demonstrated some weaknesses, namely that many of the recommendations of the European Council have not yet been implemented; that more needs to be done to disseminate information on how to cooperate jointly in the international arena; and that the Palermo Convention, which defines for the first time transnational organized crime, and its three Protocols have not yet been ratified by all member states. Changes within the European Union over the past 5 years are recounted in terms of their impact on Europol and extradition procedures between member states are described, which involve the not yet ratified European Arrest Warrant designed to simplify the extradition process. A series of recommendations are proposed to improve the operation of Europol, including the advice to adopt a clear legal instrument concerning Joint Investigative Teams and to seek to fully ratify the Palermo Convention. Footnotes