EU Justice Ministers in Luxembourg yesterday gave their backing to a wide ranging work programme, complete with target dates. for reinforcing co operation in the fight against crime, writes Patrick Smyth from Brussels.
One of the fruits of the Dublin summit, a report from a high level working group on organised crime consisting of police officers, magistrates and justice officials, recommends a major strengthening of information exchanges, practical measures, and legal changes.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, warning that, unchecked, criminal gangs could prove a threat to democracy, urged ministers to insist on a six monthly check on progress. She pledged that Ireland would be ready to ratify the Europol Convention later in the year.
Among the ideas to be put to the EU's Amsterdam summit on June 16th will be the enhancement of the role of Europol, approximation of criminal legislation in areas such as incrimination, and bringing judicial cooperation to a level comparable to police cooperation. Much other work can be done without treaty changes, such as, for example, creating a working group to ease applications for extradition.
But although the plans represent a significant advance on present practice, some member states, notably Germany and Spain, would like to go further towards creating a European FBI style force which the Taoiseach has supported in the past.