Brussels, 21/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - Be adopting a resolution tabled by its Committee on Citizens Freedoms and Rights on the Council action programme "Preventing and Controlling organised crime: a European Union strategy for the next millennium", the European Parliament rose up against the attitude of the Council which seems to indicate that Parliament's information on work relating to strategic documents is a simple act of courtesy and that it is therefore not necessary to consult Parliament. It urges the Council to consult it on all strategic documents, which means not only wait for Parliament's opinion but also take note and discuss it. As for the substance of the issue under discussion, Parliament fears that measures concerning the tracking, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the products of crime must not be taken too late. It suggests to the Council complementing its programme to take account of the need to encourage industry to develop technical prevention systems (anti-start devices for automobile vehicles, additional security norms for credit cards, etc.). Among the measures of crime prevention, Parliament would like special attention to be paid to policies aimed at alleviating the misery and limiting social marginalisation. It urges the Council and Commission also to engage in the fight against Internet-led crime, especially as concerns sites recommending violence against minors and publishing pedophilia.
During the debate, Ana Palacio (EPP, Spain) said that it was necessary to start from mutual recognition and a true trust between Member States and go, as proposed by Commissioner Vitorino, towards a harmonisation of sanctions, the French Socialist Martine Roure called for sufficiently dissuasive joint sanctions and effective prevention. The Dutch Liberal Jan Wiebenga reproached the Council for not having consulted the parliament on its actin programme against organised crime. He also insisted on the need to establish a European prosecutor. Christiana Muscadini (Aslleanza Nazionale) called for rules to fight against the use of the Internet by organised crime, in particular with regard to the trafficking in human beings and pedopornography.
On behalf of the Presidency of the Council, the French Secretary of State Christian Paul said that the Council cannot transmit to the Parliament guideline documents that are being discussed within it. The Council invites the Parliament to give its opinion on the priorities in the fight against organised crime and to ensure that the Parliament will be regularly informed and consulted in accordance with the Treaty.