Brussels, 01/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 30 November, the EU Council of Ministers formally adopted a proposal which seeks to avoid matters in a single case being heard in parallel criminal proceedings in various member states. The framework decision will require member states to inform one another of proceedings pending relating to the same case. In the event of two courts from different countries each believing they are competent jurisdiction, the text provides the possibility for the national authorities concerned to engage in direct consultations to reach rapid agreement. If the disagreement cannot be resolved, the matter may be referred to Eurojust. With the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, ministers also adopted a raft of proposals: - a draft framework decision on accreditation of forensic science activities in Europe and a resolution on the sharing of results of DNA analyses; - a decision setting up a European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN); - a resolution on the roadmap strengthening the procedural rights or suspects or persons sought in connection with criminal proceedings; - seven proposals extending the powers of the European Police Office (Europol), inter alia, with regard to work files for the purposes of analysis, data confidentiality, exchange of personal information with its partners and countries with which Europol has concluded agreements; - a decision on the use of information technology in the area of customs; - two decisions putting in place procedures between the EU and Denmark on (a) the service and (b) the legal competence, recognition and execution of civil and commercial judicial and extra-judicial acts; - a Council decision on the European Community's conclusion of the protocol on the law applicable to maintenance obligations; - a decision approving the extension of the territorial scope of the EU-US agreement on extradition to the Dutch West Indies and Aruba; - decisions on the conclusion of visa exemption agreements for short stays between the EU and Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Mauritius, St Kitts and Nevis, and the Seychelles respectively; - a decision on the signing of an agreement between the European Community and Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein on additional provisions on Funds for external borders for the period from 2007 to 2013; - several decisions on the funding of the Schengen Information System (C.SIS) and SISNET. Ministers also adopted a number of conclusions on: - SIS II (see EUROPE 10030); - improving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) safety in the EU and an action plan in this area; - a Community framework on disaster prevention in the EU; - enhancement of the fight against drugs trafficking in West Africa; - a European system for forensic drug profiling; - model provisions guiding the Council's criminal law deliberations; - labour migration and its development potential in the age of mobility; - migration at the service of development; - joint statement on a partnership for mobility between the EU and Georgia; - an EU domestic security information management strategy. (B.C./transl.rt)