"One of the Government’s priorities is countering terrorism and organised crime, especially cross border. We know that nowadays, these phenomena take on a complex and technologically sophisticated dimension, meaning it is crucial that we ensure a quick and effective exchange of information between the authorities.

The bill we present today is part of this European law enforcement cooperation, ensuring at the same time that Portugal meets its international obligations. The aim is to make the exchange of information between the law enforcement bodies of Member States more agile and efficient, contributing to the prevention, detection and repression of criminal offenses and support criminal investigations.

For this purpose, two EU directives will be transposed, strengthening the mechanisms for information exchange between Member States and guaranteeing compliance with the rules on data protection.

This scheme also aims at responding to a practical problem: the proliferation of communication channels, which may hinder the speed of exchanges and increase data protection security risks. 

To this end, the SIENA, Secure Information Exchange Network Application is to be used, a platform that is run by Europol and will become the preferred channel for this type of communication. 

At the same time, communications being centralised on PUC-CPI is reinforced, which will receive, forward and respond to national and international requests, ensuring standardised and secure information processing.

Strengthening this privileged point of contact for the exchange of information does not change the nature of the PUC-CPI, nor does it transform it into an entity with investigation powers. The proposal is to ensure the best equilibrium between the reserve of powers by criminal investigation authorities, the efficacy and efficiency of information exchange, the guarantees of criminal proceedings, and the data protection imperatives.

The scheme distinguishes between competent law enforcement authorities and appointed entities, the latter being able to address requests for information to the single points of contact in other Member States according to the rules set."