Ireland welcomes all efforts to strengthen strategic law-enforcement partnerships between jurisdictions, James Browne (Minister of State at the Department of Justice) has said.

Browne was representing Ireland at an EU-Middle East North Africa (MENA) ministerial conference in Lisbon on enhancing law-enforcement cooperation against common security threats.

The conference was hosted by the Portuguese Minister of Home Affairs yesterday (14 February).

Complex crime

The minister said: “We are in a time where transnational crime is constantly evolving and becoming more complex, and it is crucial that we continue to innovate to meet the challenges this creates.

“Serious and organised crime does not respect international borders, and states cannot be successful in combatting it without combined international efforts.

“Through engagement with representatives from countries across the EU and MENA regions, it is clear that the challenges we all face are very similar, and Ireland welcomes all efforts to strengthen strategic law-enforcement partnerships between the regions to confront them,” he said.

Measures

The conference agreed measures on enhanced law enforcement cooperation

Browne also had a bilateral meeting with the Portuguese Minister for Home Affairs, José Luís Carneiro.

He visited the Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre-Narcotics (MAOC-N), a European law-enforcement agency which develops and utilises intelligence, and coordinates the international operational response to illicit drug trafficking in maritime and air domains, especially in respect of transatlantic traffic.

This EU project was established by an international treaty signed by seven then EU member states in 2007, one of which was Ireland.