Brussels, 06/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the chairman of the working group on freedom, security and justice, John Bruton, presented the Convention with the results of the work accomplished by his group (yesterday's EUROPE, p.7), which, on the whole, were welcomed. Although all did not agree on the substance (scope of cooperation regarding immigration and harmonisation of criminal law, European prosecutor), the effort of simplification was unanimously applauded, and most supported the transition to qualified majority in many fields. Greek MEP Paraskevas Avgerinos, the first to take the floor, said the question is "ripe to be tackled at European level". He is in favour of merging provisions under one and the same pillar. Alfonso Dastis, speaking for the Spanish government, said he liked the report. In his view, things should be taken further on some points. He was in favour of strengthening common asylum and immigration policy and judicial cooperation, as well as the transformation of Eurojust into a European prosecutor's office. MEP Antonio Tajani voiced opposition to the Court having competence in this connection. Portuguese MEP Alberto Costa called for subsidiarity to be respected with regards democratic control, and called for the creation of a European border police. Pascale Andreani, on behalf of the French government, requested that, for criminal law, things should go further than harmonisation of minimum rules. She specified that France will soon be making proposals on mechanisms for the mutual assessment of implementation of European rules.
Commissioner Vitorino welcomed the fact that the report is built upon the principle of mutual recognition and recognises the need for a certain degree of harmonisation of substantive law and procedures. He regretted the fact that the report proposes keeping the Member States' right of own initiative and does not propose the creation of a European prosecutor. Hubert Haenel, from the French Senate, insisted that the coordination of operational aspects should come under the responsibility of a High Representative for Justice and Home Affairs and not of a working group (Committee Article 36, according to the report). MEP William Abitbol, considers immigration should remain under the responsibility of Member States. British MEP Andrew Duff called for greater attention to be paid to the rights of persons, either accused or complainant. Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis showed, in his presentation, that he shared most of the aims set out in the report.