04/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - As we mentioned (see EUROPE of 2 December, p.9), last November the JHA Council adopted its explanatory report on the May 2000 convention on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between EU States. This report, published in the Official Journal C/379, comments, article by article, on this convention, that should take effect in 2001. The convention comprises provisions on the forwarding of requests for mutual assistance, "spontaneous exchange of information" obtained in criminal matters between Member States, the possibility of temporarily transferring people held in custody for investigation purposes, hearings of witnesses and experts through telephone conference, the setting up of joint investigation teams, authorisations for "covert agents" to undertake "covert investigations", civil liability regarding officials, interception of telecommunications, protection of personal data.