ZARZALEJOS CO-CHAIRS THE 18TH JPSG MEETING ON EUROPOL IN CYPRUS

The Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament, Javier Zarzalejos, co-chaired in Nicosia (Cyprus) the 18th meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group (JPSG) on Europol, held on 4 and 5 February 2026.

The JPSG is the body responsible for the political oversight of Europol by the European Parliament and national parliaments, in accordance with Article 51 of Regulation (EU) 2016/794. The JPSG troika is composed of the European Parliament, the parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and that of the preceding semester. On this occasion, the meeting was co-chaired by Demetris Demetriou, representing the House of Representatives of Cyprus, and Javier Zarzalejos, in his capacity as Chair of LIBE and co-chair of the JPSG.

The agenda included contributions from Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, the Chair of the Agency’s Management Board, and the European Data Protection Supervisor, as well as a debate on strengthening Europol’s capabilities and its oversight in the context of the new Regulation.

Two scrutiny sessions were also held, focusing on Europol’s role in combating migrant smuggling and on cooperation in the field of financial and economic crime with other European agencies and bodies.