Brussels, 17/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 15 February, the Council of Ministers of the EU decided to put before the European Parliament, for its approval, a raft of agreements to be concluded between the EU and the following third countries.
Iceland and Norway. Amongst other things, these agreements deal with: - the application of a number of the provisions of Decision 2008/615/JHA of the Council on increasing cross-border cooperation, particularly with a view to fighting terrorism and cross-border crime; - the application of a number of provisions of the convention on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters; - surrender procedures.
Liechtenstein and Switzerland. These agreements cover the details of involvement in the activities of FRONTEX, the European agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of the EU.
Australia. The agreements cover the handling and transfer of data pertaining to passengers (PNR or Passenger Name Record data) from the EU by airlines to the Australian Customs services.
Japan. The agreement covers mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
United States. The agreement covers the handling and transfer of PNR data by airlines to the American Homeland Security Department (PNR agreement 2007). (L.C./transl.fl)