Article 8 Europol

Member States shall facilitate, in accordance with national law and the Europol Convention, the processing of requests made by Europol to obtain information from Member States' liaison officers in third countries or international organisations where Europol is not represented. Europol's requests shall be addressed to the Member States' National Units, which, in accordance with national law and the Europol Convention, shall take a decision on the request. Information from Member States' liaison officers in third countries or international organisations shall be transmitted to Europol in accordance with national law and the Europol Convention.

When establishing the duties of their liaison officers, Member States shall where appropriate pay attention to the tasks, which under the Europol Convention are to be carried out by Europol.F1Member States shall also ensure that the information contributed in accordance with Article 2(2) shall be exchanged with Europol in accordance with the Europol Convention.

In accordance with the national law and the Europol Convention, Member States may make a request to Europol to use Europol liaison officers seconded to third countries or international organisations, with a view to the exchange of relevant information in compliance with the cooperation agreements concluded between Europol and the third country or organisation concerned. Requests shall be addressed to Europol via the Member States' national units in accordance with the Europol Convention.

Europol shall ensure that its liaison officers seconded to third countries and international organisations provide it with information relating to serious threats of criminal offences to Member States for those criminal offences for which Europol is competent under the Europol Convention. Such information shall be communicated to the competent authorities of the Member States concerned via the national units in accordance with the Europol Convention.