Fight against organized crime: exchanges, training and cooperation. 1998-2002 FALCONE programme

The Committee adopted as amended a draft report tabled by Leoluca ORLANDO (Greens, I) on a joint action establishing a programme of exchanges, training and cooperation for people responsible for combatting organized crime (Falcone programme). The committee said that care needed to be taken to ensure that training was given sufficient financial resource value to achieve the objectives. This led the committee to adopt several amendments to the original text, stressing the need to ensure that co-financing of operations under the programme complements the funding intended for other Title VI programmes under the EU Treaty and other Community financing programmes, including those under the First Pillar. Community programmes specifically aimed at supporting the efforts of applicant countries for accession to the EU should, however, be excluded. At the same time, financial support from the Community budget must not exceed 60% of the cost of a project. The programme, established for a five-year period from 1998 to 2002, is aimed at people such as judges, public prosecutors, police customs departments and authorities responsible for the supervision of financial establishments and public procurement. The original proposal was amended to include additional categories and professions. �