Brussels, 4 March 2025
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner and the Minister of Justice and Public Security of Brazil, Ricardo Lewandowski sign an agreement on the exchange of personal data between Europol and the Brazilian Federal Police. This will strengthen cooperation between the EU and Brazil on the fight against organised crime and terrorism and builds on a strategic cooperation agreement between the EU and Brazil in place since 2017, already facilitating the exchange of non-personal data.
The agreement will guarantee a high level of protection of fundamental rights, including through strong data protection safeguards. Brazil is the first country in the Latin American region to reach this kind of agreement with the EU – and the second country in the world, alongside New Zealand. It is now for the European Parliament to give its consent for the conclusion of the agreement.
Magnus Brunner,Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, said: “International cooperation is a cornerstone of our work to strengthen the EU’s and our partners’ internal security. This agreement will provide us with the opportunity to enhance information exchange with a key partner, Brazil, and in turn increase Europol’s support to Member States’ cross-border criminal investigations.”
The Commission has made the EU’s internal security a key priority. As a central part of these efforts, the Commission is working on a new Internal Security Strategy to be presented in spring. This includes even stronger cooperation with international partners.
Europol: EU and Brazil sign international agreement to fight organised crime and terrorism
The European Union (EU) and Brazil have signed an agreement that strengthens the partnership between Europol and Brazilian law enforcement, enabling the exchange of operational information. This milestone will bolster joint efforts in tackling serious organised crime and terrorism, reinforcing security on both sides of the Atlantic.
The agreement was signed today by Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, and the Minister of Justice and Public Security of Brazil, Ricardo Lewandowski, in the presence of Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle.
Brazil has been a key partner for Europol since 2017, with a strong record of operational cooperation across various crime areas, including drug trafficking, cybercrime and human trafficking. This agreement will further strengthen law enforcement collaboration, helping to disrupt criminal networks and combat transnational crime more effectively.
Brazil is the first country in Latin America to sign such an agreement with the EU. The agreement is now subject to the European Parliament’s consent before its final implementation. Europol stands ready to support its full execution, further deepening operational engagement with Brazil in the fight against serious organised crime.
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, said:
‘International cooperation is a cornerstone of our work to strengthen the internal security of the EU and our partners. This agreement will provide us with the opportunity to enhance information exchange with a key partner, Brazil, and in turn increase Europol’s support to Member States’ cross-border criminal investigations.’
Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, added:
‘This agreement marks a new chapter in our trusted partnership with Brazil. By strengthening our operational cooperation, we are enhancing our ability to tackle the most pressing security threats together. Europol remains committed to working hand in hand with the Brazilian authorities to combat serious and organised crime.’
Cooperation with non-EU countries is a crucial component of Europol’s strategy to fight serious and organised crime. By strengthening operational ties with trusted international partners, Europol enhances the ability of EU law enforcement authorities to tackle transnational threats. Agreements like the one signed with Brazil reinforce Europol’s global network, allowing for a more coordinated approach to combating criminal networks that operate across borders.
Recent operational examples involving Brazil include:
- Cocaine cartel collapses after final arrests in Spain (June 2024)
- One of Europe’s most wanted drug traffickers behind bars and 16 arrested in Brazil (October 2023)
- Balkan cartel sinks as Spain seizes 2.7 tonnes of cocaine on board large vessel (September 2023)
- 15 arrested in Brazil over 17 tonnes of cocaine worth billions (March 2023)
Source – Europol