Brussels, 19.07.2004 (Agence Europe) - As foreseen, the Justice and Home Affairs Council could but note that it had failed to reach an agreement on one of the three candidates running for the post of director of the European police office, Europol. Ironically, during the discussion on the future of justice and home affairs policy, the Member States again stressed that Europol “must be strengthened”.
The Dutch Presidency decided to resume the whole procedure for appointing a director from zero and assures that it has received the “commitment of all Member States” to reach an agreement during its term of presidency. It hopes the Member States will be putting new candidates forward. “It is not to disqualify them but it is hardly likely that we shall reach unanimity if we put the same candidates forward”, Dutch Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner told Agence Europe. “The Union cannot allow itself to continue without a director at Europol”, Interior Minister Johan Remkes said. Since 1 July, Mariano Simancas of Spain has been caretaker director, as the tenure of the first Europol director, Jürgen Storbeck, has now expired.
France has already said that it would not put forward its candidate, Jacques Franquet, again as postponement of the procedure brings him still closer to the 65 year age limit for being director of Europol. “At a given time, when there is a given blockage, it is better to turn the page rather than go on insisting”, French Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said, refusing, however, to say whether France will be putting another candidate forward. German Interior Minister Otto Schilly hinted at a press conference that Germany would no longer have Mr Storbeck as a candidate to his own succession. Italy gave no indication about the candidature of Emanuele Marotta as there were no Italian ministers present.
The Council has authorised Europol to conclude a cooperation agreement with Switzerland. We shall come back to this.