The European Police Office (Europol) is the primary European entity that handles police co-operation at the European level. Europol’s official mission is ‘to support and strengthen action by the European Union Member States’ police authorities and other law enforcement services and their mutual co-operation in preventing and combating crime affecting two or more Member States of the European Union’. This paper deals with Europol and is divided into seven sections. The first two sections deal with the establishment and legal basis of Europol and analyse its objectives, competence and tasks. Additional sections are focused on special issues; the third section assesses the relationship of Europol with Member States of the European Union, namely national units and liaison officers. The fourth section deals with the Europol Information System and analysis work files and the fifth section is focused on co-operation with other European Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, as well as co-operation with non-EU Member States. The sixth section presents some examples of successful Europol operations. Finally, the seventh section indicates possible legal development of Europol.