Brussels, 28/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 21 September, the Council of the EU gave its agreement to the signature of a draft agreement between European Union and Iceland and Norway for the application of a number of provisions on stepping up cross-border cooperation, with a particular view to the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime. In October 2008, the Council gave the French Presidency of the EU a mandate to negotiate a draft agreement for the involvement of Norway and Iceland in the implementation of the "Prüm decisions" (decisions bringing the content of the Prüm agreements on the reinforcement of police cooperation into the law of the Union). As the draft agreement was finalised on 14 November 2008, the text authorises the President of the Council to sign the agreement of behalf of the EU. The "Prüm" decisions are designed to improve the exchange of information, particularly DNA profiles, fingerprint data and certain national registration data. Iceland and Norway, which are not members of the European Union but are members of the Schengen zone, face the same challenges as the member states in the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime. This is why they wished to be able to apply the "Prüm" decisions. (B.C./transl.fl)