International crime : fight against serious forms, extending Europol mandate. Initiative Belgium and Sweden

The European Parliament adopted the report by Maurizio TURCO (IND, It) on extending Europol's mandate to deal with serious forms of international crime. Parliament made the following amendments: - the Commission should submit by the end of 2001 a proposal for the comprehensive reform of the instruments of police and judicial cooperation, including revision of the Europol Convention to bring it into line with the highest methods of democratic control of the police forces of the Member States. The reform should aim to bring the instruments gradually within the scope of the EC Treaty. - If the Council adopts framework decisions determining the constituent elements of individual criminal offences, these will replace the corresponding provisions of the Europol Convention. - Europol will collect data on trends in international crime in the Member States. The data will be incorporated in the annual general reports of the Convention. - The Parliament should be consulted on the definition of priorities. - The general reports on Europol's activities shall be forwarded to the Parliament. - The Decision will enter into force on 1 March 2002.�