Criminal judicial cooperation: attacks against information systems and communication networks. Framework Decision

The committee adopted the report by Charlotte CEDERSCHIÖLD (EPP-ED, S) amending the proposal under the consultation procedure. It wanted democratic responsibility for human rights to be clarified and therefore stipulated in the introductory article that the framework decision would respect fundamental rights and freedoms and observe the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Another amendment said that the framework decision could not be used to suppress freedom of opinion, expression, demonstration and association. The committee also added a new article stressing the importance of prevention and the need to promote a culture of security in the information society. In line with the principle of subsidiarity, it further specified that minor or trivial behaviour was a matter for national law and should be excluded from the scope of the framework decision. Lastly, with a view to protecting people's privacy, the committee said that Article 12 (setting up operational contact points for the exchange of information between Member States) should only come into force after the creation of an appropriate data protection instrument for the third pillar at European level. �