Europol Agreement - Proactive release of associated Cabinet papers, advice to Ministers, and related documents

On 1 July 2022, Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Police Hon Chris Hipkins announced that New Zealand had signed the Europol Agreement. Read the full announcement here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/europol-agreement-will-assist-new-zealand-law-enforcement-tackling-serious-crime

The following papers set out the advice to Ministers and Cabinet on the Europol Agreement.

• The Cabinet papers primarily discuss the background of the 15 March 2019 terror attacks on Christchurch masjidain leading to New Zealand and the EU seeking to enter a reciprocal information sharing agreement, and the substantive benefits New Zealand law enforcement will obtain through receipt of this data.
  • International Agreement with the European Union – negotiating mandate (PDF, 1.6MB)
  • ERS-20-MIN-0024 Minute of Decision (PDF, 845KB)
  • The Europol Agreement – Approval for Signature (PDF, 2.1MB)
  • ERS-22-MIN-0015 Minute of Decision (PDF, 914KB).
     
• The briefings to the Minister of Police largely provide updates on the progress of the negotiations, advice on the process of signature, and Parliamentary treaty examination of the Agreement.
  • IPR/19/202 – International Agreement between New Zealand and the European Union (PDF, 826KB)
  • BR/20/24 – Cabinet for Ministerial Consultation – International Agreement with the European Union: Negotiating Mandate (PDF, 1.2MB)
  • IPR/21/106 – Update on Europol Agreement (PDF, 874KB)
  • BR/22/26 – Draft Cabinet paper and National Interest Analysis for Ministerial consultation – the Europol Agreement: Approval for Parliamentary Treaty examination (PDF, 1.1MB)
  • BR/22/40 – Submission of The Europol Agreement for Signature Cabinet paper and National Interest Analysis to Cabinet External Relations and Security Committee (PDF, 1.1MB)
  • IPR/22/11CH – Process for signature and conclusion of the Europol Agreement (PDF, 834KB)

Key sections of the Official Information Act under which information has been withheld

Certain information in the documents has been withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Act:

• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) in order to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(g)(i) in order to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions.