EUROPEAN POLICE COOPERATION AS A NATIONAL TASK Translating European police cooperation into the daily work of the Swedish Police – a qualitative analysis

Abstract: A paradox can be seen between the cross-border character of organized crime and the free movement within the European Union. The free movement is essential for the EU, which this type of crime takes advantage of. Cross-border crime requires cross-border measures, which for example takes place under the European police cooperation. In order for the European police cooperation to be as effective as possible, the member states have to translate tools and methods from the European level into their own organization. This thesis aims to examine how the translation of tools and measures from the European level affects the daily work in the Swedish Police Authority. This thesis relies on a qualitative research approach, where interviews with employees have been conducted and later analysed based on a thematic analysis as research design. Tensions resulted by the translation process have been identified which are required to be solved before the translation process can be accomplished, followed by an exploration of how the translation has affected the daily work in the Swedish Police. Thus, the influence the translation of tools and measures from the European level to the national level seems to have resulted in new ways of approaching organized crime, a decentralizing ambition in the Swedish Police and also to coordination at the national level. This thesis provides an insight in how translation of tools and measures from the European level to the national level results in deepened European integration and strengthened cross-border cooperation.