Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and Ecuador’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility Gabriela Sommerfeld have officially signed an agreement to facilitate data sharing between Europol and Ecuador. This important agreement is designed to strengthen efforts in combating organised crime and terrorism.
The new arrangement enhances the existing cooperation framework, which has already proven effective, resulting in the seizure of 80 tonnes of illegal drugs and leading to 36 arrests in March 2025. The agreement enables enhanced communication and the exchange of information, including personal data, between Europol and Ecuador. Significantly, it includes robust data protection measures to safeguard fundamental rights.
The next step involves obtaining the European Parliament’s consent for the conclusion of this agreement. Strengthening information exchange with partner countries is a critical priority for the European Union, as emphasised in the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU, presented in April 2025. It is noteworthy that the EU has established similar agreements with New Zealand and has recently signed one with Brazil in March 2025.
