Brussels, 13/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Union's Home Affairs and Justice Ministers, meeting in Brussels Friday afternoon under the Presidency of Antoine Duquesne (Home Affairs) and Marc Verwilghen (Justice) and in the presence of Commissioner Antonio Vitorino, turned essentially to two problems: exchange of information on trouble-makers having committed acts of violence (through either access to existing national files, or the constitution of a European databank) and the free movement of persons known for deeds troubling public order. Ministers, meeting after the violent demonstrations at the Gothenburg Summit, adopted conclusions to improve security at European Councils and other events, faced with acts of premeditated violence on the part of people that have nothing to do with peaceful demonstrations. The importance of dialogue with non-governmental organisations, social partners and civil society is emphasised, as is constructive dialogue with organisers of demonstrations and the authorities of the host country, and close contacts between the police forces of Member States. These conclusions also comprise operational elements on strengthening police cooperation (permanent national points of contact for analysis and exchange of information, setting up of pools of liaison officers, recourse to police officials and intelligence capable of identifying those responsible for trouble, spotters…), the crossing of borders and judiciary cooperation.
During the discussions, the German Minister for Home Affairs, Otto Schily welcomed the consensus reached regarding police cooperation (direct contacts between police forces without passing through other State authorities, use of spotters). At the G8 Summit in Genoa (from 20 to 22 July), the Italian Government is expecting some one hundred thousand participants, 3 to 10% of whom are said to be potentially inclined towards violence, noted Claudio Scajola, Italian Home Affairs Minister, who said that, in view of the Summit, the Italian Government had taken measures to dialogue with the forum that groups all anti-globalisation movements (the Genoa Social Forum). At the same time, Italy has suspended the Schengen Agreement (from 14 to 21 July), re-establishing border controls. As for the French Minister for Home Affairs, Daniel Vaillant, he welcomed the consensus between the Fifteen on the need to make these types of meetings safe while respecting the rule of law. The dialogue is fertile, the minister continued, our work has served to reconcile the fundamental right of each to move freely and strengthen cooperation between the different services responsible, to avoid violence preventing future meetings being held.