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EU: European Parliament: Liberal and democratic MEPs make last-minute attempt for more Europol powers
25 April 2016
"The ALDE Group in the European Parliament has today tabled legislative amendments to the regulation on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) aimed at strengthening Europol's mandate and providing it with a genuine European investigation capacity. Given the transnational nature of the threats Europe is facing, especially in the wake of the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks in France and Belgium, ALDE proposes concrete measures to give Europol a genuine investigation capacity:
- Europol's mandate: Europol has to provide a cross-border investigation capacity in preventing and combating terrorism and serious crime.
- Initiation of a criminal investigation: Europol needs a legal capacity to request the initiation of a criminal investigation.
- Information by Europol National Units: Europol National Units should facilitate cooperation among Member States and provide the basis for a European investigation capacity. National units should be obliged to share information."
See:
Europol must be given a genuine European investigation capacity (ALDE, link). The text of the proposed amendments is yet to be published on the
European Parliament website (listed as amendments tabled in committee: PE582.089).
The text of the new Europol Regulation was agreed between negotiating MEPs and the Council in December 2015. The European Parliament is due to vote on the text on 28 April. See the text of the proposed Regulation:
Proposal for a REGULATION on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol) and repealingreplacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA and 2005/681/JHA (152 pges, pdf)
A recent paper by the European Commission sets out the key differences between the original proposal and the agreed text:
Communication from the Commission ot the European Parliament Position of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and replacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA (pdf):
"Despite the changes that the Common position has introduced, the text of the Common position constitutes the best possible outcome that the Commission could reach in the two-year negotiations with the Parliament and the Council on a very complex text.
The Commission's objectives for the Europol reform have been achieved by aligning Europol with the requirements of the Treaty of Lisbon and by increasing its efficiency, effectiveness and accountability."