Commissioner denies ‘EU FBI’ as Europol gets power to prod states into criminal probes

Europol is set to gain new powers that could push national governments to pursue criminal investigations, but EU home affairs commissioner Magnus Brunner insists this doesn't mean Brussels is establishing a "European FBI." MEPs are concerned about the extent of these new authorities, which include influencing national prosecutors and accessing information currently off-limits. This move raises significant questions about the balance between national sovereignty and unified EU action in combating transnational crime, highlighting the ongoing tension between local control and centralized enforcement.