Brussels, 30/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - Approving its rapporteurs on Thursday in Brussels, the European Parliament once again opposed the uncontrolled development of cooperation between national police forces and called for democratic and jurisdictional control of police activity. The EP rejected two initiatives put forward by Spain for the creation of a European police studies institute and a contact point network for private security. It called on Spain to withdraw its proposals. It also adopted several amendments that reduce the scope of another Spanish initiative aimed at the creation of a European network for the protection of public figures. The amendments mainly do away with the powers that Spain wished to attribute to this network concerning the number of armed officials on post according to the public figure to be protected; the priority given to the public figure in processions; the fixing of common rules for media accreditation and authorisation to approach the personality. On the matter of the European Police Office, it rejects two initiatives by Belgium and Spain aimed at bringing changes to the Europol Convention as well as the basic remuneration of its staff. With 338 votes in favour, 113 against and 4 abstentions, it again insists that Europol should carry out its missions in the context of the normal EU activities, with adequate parliamentary and jurisdictional control.
Rapporteurs urge for rejection of Spanish and Belgian initiatives - Support from political
groups and, to a larger extent, from Commissioner Vitorino
During the debate Wednesday evening, Spanish Socialist Carmen Cerdeira Mortero called on the plenary to reject Spain's initiative with a view to creating a network of contact points of relevant national authorities on private security. She urged Spain to withdraw its proposal. Stressing that private security is an economic service, she said it was not possible to intervene in this sector except to adopt Community regulations in the context of the internal market. Portuguese Socialist Sergio Sousa Pinto called for rejection of the Spanish initiative aimed at creating a European police studies institute. He felt that the new institute would entail more red tape and additional costs when there is already a police college (CEPOL), which could be improved. Rather than calling for rejection of the Spanish initiative on the creation of a European network for the protection of public figures (see EUROPE of 24 May, p.10), British Conservative the Earl of Stockton called for a series of amendments stressing that they had been adopted unanimously by the EP Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights. After stressing that the protection of public figures comes under the scope of national authorities, he criticised a proposal that gives the impression of wanting to codify the level of protection. "Someone as important as yourself, Mr President, would automatically have two armoured cars with bodyguards armed like nuclear submarines whereas an obscure little MEP from the back benches would at best have a policeman who would go past every two days", he said to illustrate what codification could bring as he addressed the vice-president, German Social Democrat Gerhard Schmid, who was chairing the session. Mr Schmid replied that he did not personally need policemen. Mr Stockton explained that amendments aimed to facilitate cooperation between all the services concerned by the protection of public figures, while avoiding the creation of additional costs and structures and guaranteeing that information exchange complies with the EU's Charter on Fundamental Rights. Presenting his two reports on Europol, Belgian national Gérard Deprez (MCC) called on the plenary to reject Belgium's initiative concerning a 5.2% increase in the basic salary of Europol staff, while the increase is less for other officials for no reason. Being a matter of the initiative aimed at facilitating changes to the Europol Convention with a simple Council decision taken unanimously instead of ratification by all Member States (EUROPE of 27 April, p.12, on the subject of the last JHA Council), Mr Deprez recognised that "it seems to be along the right lines". But, he added, at the same time this initiative keeps Europol "in the intergovernmental sphere", could entail excessive slowness after enlargement and confirms the marginalisation of the EP while national parliaments have no means of control. Recalling that the use of Article 34 of the EU Treaty would allow a Council decision by majority vote, the consultation of Parliament and the granting of powers to the Court of Justice, he invited the plenary to adopt a recommendation along these lines and to reject the initiative of Belgium and Spain.
Commissioner Antonio Vitorino pointed out that the Commission has nothing against re-assessment of the basic remuneration of Europol staff. Regarding changes to the Convention, it shares the rapporteur's opinion about the use of Article 34 and Europol's integration into the EU, and agrees with most of the recommendation, including the need for democratic control. It remains, however, reticent about the solution that provides for control to be exercised by EP representatives present within the Administration Council. On the matter of the initiative on private security, Mr Vitorino considered the case law of the Court of Justice should be respected in classifying this sector among the services and that the establishment of the network with the legal base proposed by Spain would be in infringement of Article 47 of the Treaty. Concerning the two other initiatives, he recalled that the Commission has already warned against having too many networks and supported a more pragmatic approach.
Spanish national Jorge Hernandez Mollar gave the support of the EPP-ED Group to the rapporteurs while taking a stance for European regulation of private security. He hoped there would be reflection on the private and public security twosome. German Social Democrat Ozan Ceyhun insisted on the need for parliamentary control on Europol activities. The co-president of the Greens/EFA, Monica Frassoni (Italian member elected in Belgium) expressed regret that provisional decisions are too often "definitively provisional" in the EU. She pointed out that it was not possible for her group to associate itself with the recommendation on Europol changes if the vote by majority in Council was not accompanied by EP codecision. German elected PDS member Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann deplored the fact that the Parliament is again being left on the sidelines while the powers of Europol continue to increase.