Strasbourg, 23/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - By adopting, on Thursday, the report by Mrs Evelyne Gebhardt on Eurojust (ESP, Germany), the European Parliament showed its desire to exceed a thin vision of this provisional unit, whose action should enable to enhance the fight against serious forms of organised crime.
Through its vote on this initiative from France, Belgium, Portugal and Sweden, the Parliament clearly stated that Eurojust should provide true value-added compared with the instruments supplied by the European Legal Network and exchanges between magistrates. In this connection, it called on Member States to second magistrates and attorneys to Eurojust, ensuring good coordination and close cooperation between the national law enforcement authorities, along with effective cooperation with Europol and the European Commission. MEPs voted an amendment whereby Member States where police have similar responsibilities to attorneys and magistrates can send police officers to attend Eurojust meetings.
Believing that Eurojust will have to deal with investigations which form part of legal proceedings, the Parliament felt that it was vital to also set condition for the protection of information and the respect of legal procedures, particularly human rights and the right to defence.
Ms Gebhardt welcomed the fact that through its vote, the Parliament had moved on from a 'minimalist' view of Eurojust's role, which was what citizens require, she said. She concentrated on the introduction of data protection which was not mentioned in the Council document, and on Eurojust's independence, which should not be subject to pressure from the Council of the Commission and must account for its activity each year before the European Parliament. European Commissioner Antonio Vitorino said he shared the Rapporteur's view, but drew attention to the tricky issue of the link between Eurojust and OLAF - he basically explained that it was important to avoid giving the impression that Eurojust is involved in OLAF cases or that OLAF is called upon to play a role.