The Hague

Europol is the European Union law enforcement organisation that handles criminal intelligence. Its aim is to improve the effectiveness and cooperation between the competent authorities of the Member States in preventing and combating serious international organised crime. The establishment of Europol was agreed in the Maastricht Treaty of European Union on 7 February 1992. The Europol Convention came into force on 1 October 1998.

The first ever permanent, treaty-based international criminal court was established on 17 July 1998 when its statute was accepted by 120 States. The ICC is a court of last resort. It will not act if a case is investigated or prosecuted by a national judicial system unless the national proceedings are not genuine. In addition, the ICC only tries those accused of the gravest crimes.The international community has long aspired to the creation of a permanent international court, and, in the 20th century, it reached consensus on definitions of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The Peace Palace in The Hague is home to a number of international judicial institutions. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the renowned Peace Palace Library all reside in the Palace. The Hague Academy of International Law, also within the Palace, attracts law students from around the world around the calendar.