Luxembourg, 23/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 23 October, the EU27 managed to agree on a common standards concerning the accreditation of forensic laboratory activities in Europe, announced the Swedish Justice Minister Beatrice Ask. "Trains have to be able to cross borders and the same is true of forensic science", she stressed (our translation). The ministers managed to reach a general orientation on a draft framework decision, the objective of which is to guarantee that the results of the activities of the laboratories of forensic services providers accredited in one member state are the acknowledged equivalent of these activities accredited in accordance with the same standard in any other member state. This measure will help to facilitate the exchange of information (DNA, digital fingerprints) between the authorities responsible for the prevention and detection of criminal activities or investigations into such matters, and to guarantee the high levels of quality of this information. As for the formal adoption of the proposal, the member states have yet to decide on the date of entry into force for the various provisions. At the moment, provisions relating to DNA could enter into force a maximum of four years after the decision is adopted, whereas it will be a maximum of six years for those on digital fingerprints. The ministers also agreed (general approach) on a proposed decision reinforcing the current European Crime Prevention Network (ECPN). In this context, the European Justice Minister, Jacques Barrot, announced that he would increase the EU's funding of the ECPN from €180,000 to €900,000. (B.C./transl.fl)