Benelux Police Cooperation Treaty to Enter into Force on Sunday

Luxembourg's Ministry of Internal Security has confirmed that the treaty between Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands on police cooperation will enter into force on Sunday 1 October 2023.

During the negotiation of the new Benelux treaty, which was signed on 23 July 2018 in Brussels by the competent ministers of Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, it was decided that its official entry into force would be subject to the finalisation of implementing acts allowing the practical implementation of the provisions of the treaty.

On Thursday 28 September 2023, the competent ministers signed these implementing acts. Their official entry into force will take place in parallel with that of the treaty, on Sunday 1 October 2023.

This treaty and the implementing acts replace the treaty of 8 June 2004 and create a broader police cooperation framework; they intensify and expand the possibilities for police cooperation between the contracting parties with a view to even closer cooperation in terms of the prevention, detection and investigation of criminal offences, as well as the maintenance of public order and of public safety.

Luxembourg's Minister of Internal Security, Henri Kox, recalled that "organised cross-border crime and terrorism remain significant threats against which we must guard and act effectively" and he welcomed the entry into force of the treaty as a concrete and decisive measure in this area.

Compared to the 2004 treaty, the new treaty contains a certain number of provisions concerning the strengthening of mechanisms at the level of cross-border pursuit, the execution of acts of research on the respective territory of the other contracting parties, known as cross-border research, requests for security of traces and evidence or even cross-border transport and support of people and goods. Other provisions concern special intervention units, the secondment of joint liaison officers to the Benelux countries, to third countries or to international organisations, as well as the creation of a joint liaison office.

Minister Kox praised the work carried out towards the entry into force of this treaty. He expressed the hope that the Benelux Union "continues to inspire us to optimise our tools in the fight against cross-border crime" in order to always demonstrate innovation in this area.

At the national level, Luxembourg's Ministry of Internal Security, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor General's Office and the Grand Ducal Police collaborated "fruitfully" during the treaty negotiations. The implementing acts were drawn up with relevant stakeholders from all Benelux countries.