EU/Iceland/Norway agreement: mutual assistance in criminal matters. 2000 Convention and 2001 Protocol thereto

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the EU and Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of the Convention of 29 May 2000 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union and the 2001 Protocol thereto.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: this proposal aims to conclude, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the EU and Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of the Convention of 29 May 2000 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union and the 2001 Protocol thereto.

The Agreement was signed on 19 December 2003 but it has not yet been formally concluded. For details of the content of the Agreement, please refer to Council document 14938/2003.

With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the procedures to be followed by the Union in order to conclude the Agreement are governed by Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) which states that the Council shall adopt a decision concluding the agreement, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

Territorial application: in accordance with the Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, these Member States have notified their wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Decision. Denmark will not be bound by the Agreement.