EU home affairs commissioner denies EU FBI; Europol gets power to request criminal investigations (euobserver.com)

• Commissioner Brunner denies creating an EU FBI amid new Europol powers.
• Article 11 allows Europol to request member states launch criminal investigations.
• MEPs question if this is a gradual takeover of national investigative powers.

"EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner denied plans to create a European FBI during a parliamentary hearing on a new proposal to strengthen Europol. The proposal allows Europol's executive director to request member states launch criminal investigations. States must respond within one month and justify refusals. MEPs raised concerns that this could be a first step toward Europol taking over investigations. Brunner dismissed the concerns without addressing conflict resolution mechanisms."