EU/JHA: TOWARD A NEW MULTI-ANNUAL PROGRAM;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 003101 SIPDIS DHS FOR IAO, BORDER PATROL DOJ FOR CRM ROME ALSO FOR INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER SMIG PREF CMGT CVIS KCRM EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: EU/JHA: TOWARD A NEW MULTI-ANNUAL PROGRAM; LINKING OF CRIMINAL REGISTRIES; NO EUROPOL HEAD YET REF: USEU BRUSSELS 2477 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The EU Council of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) on July 19 began preparations for a new multi-annual JHA program building on EU work over the past five years to establish "a common area of freedom, security and justice." Noting the persisting deadlock on the appointment of a new Europol Director, the Council decided to relaunch the process from scratch: the Dutch Presidency now expects new candidacies to be presented as a way of overcoming the disagreement between France and Germany. The Council also took stock of cooperation against terrorism and heard a presentation from Greece of security measures for the Athens Olympics. Ministers discussed prospects to create a pan- European criminal registry. Rather than moving toward the creation of a brand new tool, the Commission will propose the interconnecting national registries and implementation of short-term measures for exchanging information on serious criminals such as pedophiles and serial killers. Contrary to earlier indications, Hungary did not complain about a Commission proposal to soften the mechanism that allows for visas to be automatically imposed on non- EU countries, such as the U.S., that have a visa requirement for some Member States. Full text of the Council conclusions has been transmitted to EUR/ERA and Embassy The Hague. END SUMMARY. NEW MULTIANNUAL PROGRAM -------------- ¶2. The Council held an initial "orientation debate" on a new multi-annual program intended to build on EU work of the past five years (known as the "Tampere agenda") to establish "a common area of freedom, security and justice". This discussion will continue at Council meetings in September-October, and should lead to endorsement by EU leaders on November 5, 2004 of policy guidelines covering the various JHA areas. Speaking to the press, Dutch Justice Minister Donner said the initial debate confirmed a widespread emphasis on cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism; on rules on the admission of aliens into the EU; and in civil, criminal and commercial law. Donner said the exchange of information among legal and judicial authorities of EU members would be "of crucial significance" in the years ahead. He reported "a great willingness to take further effective steps." Dutch Interior Minister Remkes also noted the need to strengthen Europol ("more information and more analysis, leading to operational action"). Immigration ministers further discussed the development of a common European asylum policy and greater coordination on integration, which the Dutch suggest should become an essential component of a comprehensive EU migration policy. ¶3. A Presidency discussion paper on the new program highlights the need for implementation of the existing EU legal framework, integration of the new Member States, and creation of a European legal and judicial system. Donner said the general reaction was supportive. While conceding that the level of ambition was not uniform among delegations, he noted that Dutch JHA planning was based on the existing Treaty provisions, while the program itself would extend to when the EU could be governed by its new Constitutional Treaty. Hence the Commission proposal for a mid-term review of the program that could coincide with the entry into force of the Constitution (at the end of 2006). COUNTERTERRORISM -------------- ¶4. The Council took stock of the implementation of the Action Plan/Roadmap following on last March's Declaration by EU leaders on combating terrorism. CT Coordinator de Vries recalled the CT priorities identified by the European Council: financing, civil protection, protection of critical infrastructures and external relations policy. Commissioner Vitorino drew attention to a Commission communication on access to information by law enforcement agencies, an item that will be further discussed at the October 25-26 JHA Council. SECURITY AT THE OLYMPICS -------------- ¶5. The Greek delegation reported on security measures adopted ahead of the Olympics. Minister Donner told a press conference the Greek measures came across as "extremely professional, covering the whole Greek territory and involving a large number of people in training." EUROPOL HEAD -------------- ¶6. Ministers could not break the deadlock on appointment of a new Director of Europol, a position that has been vacant since the end of June (REFTEL). Germany has pressed for the reappointment of outgoing Director Storbeck, while France and Italy have pushed their own candidates. With the required consensus proving impossible on any of the three names, Minister Remkes told the press the ministers concluded it would be a good idea "to relaunch the procedure from scratch." Remkes made it clear the Dutch expect new candidacies to be presented and that the selection procedure should lead to "a sensible choice of a very good candidate." Meanwhile, Storbeck's Deputy, Spain's Mariano Simancas, continues as acting Director. While Spanish delegates declined to say whether they would propose him for the top job, France is reported as giving up on its own candidate (Franquet). EUROPEAN CRIMINAL REGISTRY -------------- ¶7. Per request of the Belgian delegation, the Council discussed prospects for establishing a pan- European criminal registry. The Belgians invoked the recent cross-border case of a serial killer who was able to work in a Belgian school although he had been convicted for abusing minors in France. Minister Donner said ministers concurred the EU eventually needs to develop a system whereby it would be possible to exchange information, but that a number of preventive measures were also needed for the short-term. Commissioner Vitorino announced the Commission would present a "white book" on the subject by year's end, as well as legislative proposals on the mutual recognition of convictions and the interconnection of national criminal registries. Prior to that, a proposal will be tabled in October on measures for exchanging information about serious criminals such as pedophiles and serial killers. Donner made it clear the EU was not likely to move toward the creation of a brand new pan-European criminal registry, but rather a linked-up system. He noted that France, Spain and Germany intended to forge ahead with plans to share their criminal records. NEW PAPERS ON IMMIGRATION, RETURN, INTEGRATION -------------- - ¶8. Commissioner Vitorino presented a number of Communications to the Council, in particular: - A Communication on a common readmission/return policy: This outlines the main problems encountered by the Commission in its ongoing negotiations for the conclusion of readmission agreements. EU sources noted that since September 2000, the Commission has been authorized to negotiate Community readmission agreements with 11 non-EU countries or territories and that to date, only four of these negotiations have been successfully completed (with Hong Kong, Macao, Sri Lanka and Albania). The main lesson learned by the Commission is that successful conclusion of such negotiations often requires compensatory offers or EU "incentives." Vitorino, who is hoping for the conclusion of an agreement with Russia "pretty soon," complained limited EU resources to support readmission/reintegration actions (15m euro a year until 2006). Dutch Minister for Immigration and Integration Verdonk said those issues would be discussed at the October-November JHA Councils. - The annual report on migration and integration in Europe: An overview of migration trends in Europe, the report is a new instrument to review the development of a common immigration policy. It underlines the need for a level-playing field in terms of admission policies for economic migrants and the need for strengthening and developing policy instruments to address integration of non- EU nationals. Minister Verdonk said the Dutch Presidency would present to the informal JHA Council at the end of September "an approach involving European principles on integration," to be followed by a conference in November. --A Communication on a single procedure for processing of applications for protection: The Council earlier this year formally adopted a Directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection (Qualification Directive) as well as a political agreement on a Directive setting minimum standards on procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status (Asylum Procedures Directive). With these two texts, the EU will have completed the first stage of its legislative program for the establishment of a Common European Asylum System. Meanwhile, EU leaders in June 2003 called for further reinforcement of asylum procedures to make them more efficient and speed up processing of non-protection related applications. According to the Commission, taking steps toward a single procedure, whereby all possible requests for protection are addressed in a single examination, would answer those demands. ¶9. Further details on these papers are available from http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/news. MCKINLEY