On 15 August 2024, the agreement between the EU and New Zealand on the exchange of personal data between Europol and New Zealand authorities entered into application. For the way to the agreement → eucrim 3/2019, 165, → eucrim 2/2022, 100, and → eucrim 1/2023, 22). The agreement aims to enhance the parties’ abilities to combat serious organised crime and terrorism. It extends the existing Working Arrangement of 2019 (→eucrim 9 September 2019), and it is the first agreement that allows Europol to transfer personal data to an authority of a third country on the basis of an international agreement pursuant to the 2016 Europol Regulation.

The EU-New Zealand cooperation agreement includes provisions on the following:

• The exchange of information and data protection;
• The rights of data subjects;
• The establishment of a supervisory authority;
• Administrative and judicial redress.

Cooperation between Europol and the New Zealand police has been intensified in the aftermath of the Christchurch attacks in 2019. New Zealand has access to Europol’s secure communication channel and has a Liaison Officer stationed at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague.