European Police Office, Europol: Art. 2 and annex, Protocol on money laundering. Initiative Portugal

PURPOSE : to amend the Convention concerning EUROPOL in order to extend its competence to deal with money laundering. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Act 2000Y1213 drawing up the basis of Article 43(1) of the Convention on the establishment of a European Police Office (Europol Convention) of a Protocol amending Article 2 and the Annex to that Convention. CONTENT : the protocol amending the EUROPOL Convention, aims to extend the competence of Europol to money laundering in general, regardless of the type of offence from which the laundered proceeds originate. To carry this out, the Protocol provides Europol with the most efficient means in order to combat money laundering and strengthen its capacities in the assistance is brings to the Member States in this fight. ENTRY INTO FORCE : the protocol is subject to ratification by all the Member States. It is applicable to all candidate countries if, in the meantime, one or several of them become Members of the European Union.�