Judicial cooperation: creation of a provisional Unit. Initiative Portugal, France, Sweden and Belgium

The Council noted political agreement between delegations regarding a draft decision setting up a provisional unit (EUROJUST). The solution adopted by the Council would fully associate the Commission with the work of the provisional unit in line with Article 36(2) of the EU Treaty, with particular reference to the negotiation and adoption by the Council of the act setting up a permanent EUROJUST Unit. The Commission would also be enabled to provide expertise in its fields of competence. With regard to the provisional unit's objectives, these are to improve cooperation between the competent national authorities with regard to investigations and prosecutions in relation to serious crime, particulary when it is organised, involving two or more Member States. The Council instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to settle some unresolved questions concerning the practical organisation of the provisional unit's work so that it could set up the provisional EUROJUST unit once the European Parliament's Opinion had been examined.�