European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN). Initiative Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and United Kingdom

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report drawn up by Sonia ALFANO (ALDE, IT) on the initiative of several Member States with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision setting up a European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) and repealing Decision 2001/427/JHA, calling on the European Parliament to reject the proposed initiative.

The Members consider that the draft decision raises questions in terms of both substance and procedure and that it lacks ambition.

They recall that the Lisbon Treaty, which will enter into force on 1 December 2009, will introduce a new legal base on crime prevention (Article 84 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - TFEU) that will grant co-decision powers to Parliament (in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure).

As a result, the Members call on the Council not to formally adopt the initiative prior to the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon so as to allow the final act to be finalised ensuring a full role and control by the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Commission and Parliament. The Members indicate, that being the case, they are committed to considering any further proposal, notably for the creation of an observatory on crime, organised crime and prevention, by urgent procedure.

They, therefore, call on the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to withdraw their initiative.