Strasbourg, 15/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of several reports, the European Parliament approved, with amendments, several initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Member States concerning:
- Money laundering and the confiscation of criminal earnings. With the adoption of the report by Portuguese Socialist Luis Marinho, the Parliament approves the French initiative but calls on Member States to take measures in order to confiscate all earnings from crime over and above 2500 euro (and not 4000 euro as in the initial text). The Parliament hopes that the transposition into national law of this framework decision will come about at the latest on 31 December 2002 (and not 2001) in order to leave Member States the time to adjust their legal systems.
- Extension of Europol powers to laundering. With the adoption of the report by Greek Socialist Anna Karamanou, the Parliament supports the initiative of the Portuguese Republic aimed at extending the scope of the Europol office to money laundering and to give it the means required for carrying out this new task. The EP amendments essentially aim at guaranteeing democratic control over Europol, mainly through EP consultation procedure during the appointment of the director and vice-directors.
- Enhanced judicial assistance. By adopting the report by French Socialist Martine Roure, the Parliament approves the French initiative for a Convention relating to the improvement of judicial cooperation in criminal matters, mainly in the fight against organised crime, money laundering and financial crime. The Parliament insists that the financial advisory activities for lawyers and other legal professions should be covered by judicial assistance.
- Establishment of judicial cooperation. With the adoption of the report by German Social Democrat Evelyne Gebhardt, the Parliament approves the joint initiative by France, Belgium and Sweden aimed at preparing EUROJUST and facilitating, in the meantime, the coordination of inquiry action and prosecution covering the territory of several Member States. The Parliament considers that the representation of the Member States cannot be assured by a police officer unless the legal system of the country in question does not provide for the post of prosecutor. It also calls on the Commission to be fully involved in the work of this provisional unit.
The Parliament, moreover, referred back to the relevant committee, at the request of the rapporteur, the report by German Social Democrat Ozan Ceyhun on two initiatives of the French Republic concerning repression of aid to unlawful entry and residence.