Brussels, 02/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament Committee on Citizens' Rights and Freedoms, chaired by British Liberal Democrat Graham Watson, last week adopted around 70 amendments to the draft convention on mutual judicial assistance by EU Member States. These amendments essentially seek to insist upon the fundamental rights of the accused (in particular minors) and also delete the very controversial Article 18 establishing the possibility of intercepting the telecommunications of persons within the territory of another Member State without the technical assistance of the State in question.
The rapporteur, former judge Antonio di Pietro (Liberals, Italy), regretted that the Council left Parliament very little time to state its view on this important matter and, while describing the text as "the outcome of four years' horse-trading" and "the mountain bringing forth a mouse", asserted that Parliament should approve the draft convention, which can be viewed as a first step in strengthening the combat against international crime.
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