Security: European network for the protection of public figures. Initiative Spain

PURPOSE : to establish a European network for the protection of public figures based on an initiative from the Spanish Presidency. CONTENT : the process of regionalisation and globalisation taking place in our societies leads, in all fields, to an increasing number of transnational activities being carried out, giving rise to a considerable increase in travel within the European Union by certain persons from the Member States and third States who, because they are regarded as public figures, are subject to official protection. Travel by public figures gives rise to the organisation of static and dynamic protective measures, based on a reasonable, serious assessment of the risks or dangers which may affect them, including activities by terrorists and organised criminal groups. The European Network for the Protection of Public Figures will have the following objectives: - promoting close cooperation and collaboration between the appropriate departments of the Member States with responsibility for the protection of public figures; - exchanging information, officials and experience concerned with the protection of public figures; - setting up a database on assaults and attacks on public figures, case studies, methods used, etc; - establishing conditions for the issue, by the European Police College, of a common authorisation for officials with responsibility for the protection of public figures; - approximately the existing rules and regulations in each Member State. The functions to be carried out by the European Network for the Protection of Public figures will include the following: - defining the national permanent contact points and the exchanges of information, offices and experience; - simplifying procedures by drawing up a standard form in all Member States; - determining the maximum number of armed officials according to the public figure involved and the resources to be deployed; - outlining the conditions for provision of service by officials with responsibility for the protection of a public figure of one Member State when they are in or enter another Member State; - studying common methods of action to prevent assault and attacks; - adopting joint protocols on the priority granted to the protected public figure during the movement of delegations; - collaborating with the other police forces and other departments; - establishing common rules to be observed in connection with accreditation and media access to public figures. As regards the design, objectives and functions of the Network, and so as not to add to the existing police cooperation structures, the organisation and execution of its activities will be carried out by a Management Centre, to be located in the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the Union and headed by a senior official from the appropriate national department of the Member State holding the Presidency. The Network will be assisted by the Secretariat and the Legal Service of the Council and will have a computer system facilitating the setting-up of the databases, exchanges ofinformation and requests for assistance between the Member States. The SIRENE bureaux may be considered for this purpose. �