Today the European Parliament voted on a package of reports on European Police Office (Europol) and one on the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) rejecting the Council proposals taking into account the imminent entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon and stressing the overall support and development of both entities.

Sophie In't Veld MEP (D66, NL), rapporteur of the implementing rules governing Europol said:

"The rush by the Council to adopt a whole series of decisions before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, thus circumventing the equal legislative role of the European Parliament is embarrassing. We support the development of a strong Europol, able to operate and fight against crime, but we also want a Europol that is subject to democratic scrutiny. I have some concerns regarding the transfer of personal data and confidential documents to third parties which cannot be ignored. The Council must now present new proposals on Europol within a maximum of six months - and preferably earlier - under the Lisbon Treaty."

Sonia Alfano MEP (Idv, IT) rapporteur for the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) stated: “Our rejection is to ensure the development of a strong Network. The Network has been proven ineffective and it has not reached the outstanding goals for which it was established in the first place. The role of the European Parliament, with its right of co-decision under Lisbon, will be essential in reforming such an important entity and that is why we ask the Council to come up immediately, after the Treaty enters in force, with a more ambitious proposal. The current Network is far from achieving its full potential. Over the last few years the EU has stressed the importance in combating terrorism but little has been done to tackle crime and especially organised crime."

Notes from the editor:

Under the Lisbon Treaty, the distinction of JHA matters between the Community method (asylum, immigration, visas and judicial cooperation in civil matters) on which the EP was co-legislator and the so called “Third Pillar” (police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters) on which the EP was only consulted is abolished. All policy areas will fall under the Community method in which qualified-majority voting and co-decision are the general rule. The European Parliament will now play a full legislative role through co-decision procedure.

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For more information, please contact:
Neil Corlett: +32-2-284 20 77 or +32-478-78 22 84
e-mail: neil.corlett@europarl.europa.eu
Federica Terzi: +32-2-283 23 24 or +32-494 18 88 31
Web: http://www.alde.eu