The new Centre will serve as a European information hub on cybercrime, developing and deploying digital forensic capabilities to support investigations in the EU, building capacity to combat cybercrime through training and awareness raising, as well as delivering best practice on cybercrime investigations.

 
In his opening speech at the event, the Director of Europol, Rob Wainwright, welcomed senior law enforcement personnel, VIPs, dignitaries and other invited guests to the event, before handing over to EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, who expressed how EC3 would be the key to reducing cybercrime activities and making the EU's internet-based economy a secure place for citizens and businesses.
 
Other speakers included the Mayor of The Hague, Jozias van Aartsen; John O’Mahoney, Chairman of the Europol Management Board and John Morton, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As part of the event, a Letter of Intent was signed between Europol and the US ICE, in which the two agencies committed to developing ongoing, cooperative efforts through support, training, and information sharing on different areas of cybercrime.
 
Europol cybercrime experts also took part in a Europol Expo, to inform event participants about the techniques behind tackling such issues as online fraud, cybercrime which causes serious harm to the victim - such as online child sexual exploitation - as well as cybercrime that affects critical infrastructure and information systems in the EU.
 
On the opening of the new Centre, Rob Wainwright, Europol Director, said: "The threats from cybercrime are dynamic and rapidly evolving, but a revolution is now underway in EU law enforcement and the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) will be at its forefront. By building trust and establishing information flows between law enforcement and cybersecurity stakeholders, we will be smarter, faster, and stronger, ultimately resulting in a safer cyberspace for EU citizens and businesses."