Fight against cross-border vehicle crime. Initiative Netherlands

PURPOSE : to tackle vehicle crime with cross-border implications.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2004/919/EC on tackling vehicle crime with cross-border implications.

CONTENT : The objective of this Decision is to achieve improved cooperation within the European Union with the aim of preventing and combating cross-border vehicle crime. An estimated 1.2 million motor vehicles are stolen each year in the Member States of the EU. A large proportion of these vehicles, estimated at 30 to 40 %, are stolen by organised crime and then converted and exported to other States within and outside the EU. Vehicle crime may also be linked internationally to other

forms of crime, such as trafficking in drugs, firearms and human beings. Consequently, the Decision states that particular attention shall be given to the relationship between vehicle theft and the illegal car trade and forms of organised crime.

The main provisions are as follows:

- Member States will take steps to enhance mutual cooperation between national competent authorities in order to combat cross-border vehicle crime, such as by means of cooperation agreements. Specific attention must be given to cooperation with respect to export control;

- the Decision provides for cooperation between competent authorities and the private sector (such as

holders of private registers of missing vehicles, insurers and the car trade);

- By 30 March 2005, Member States must designate a contact point for tackling cross-border vehicle crime. The latter will exchange experience, expertise as well as general and technical information concerning vehicle crime on the basis of existing applicable legislation. Such exchanges shall not include exchanges of personal data;

- Whenever a vehicle is reported stolen, Member States' competent authorities shall immediately enter a stolen vehicle alert in the SIS and, where possible, in Interpol's Stolen Motor Vehicle database. There are also provisions for alerts after theft of vehicle registration documents;

- National vehicle registration authorities shall be informed by law enforcement authorities whether a vehicle, in the process of being registered, is known as having been stolen. Access to databases to that end shall take place with due respect to provisions of Community law;

- the Decision provides for preventing abuse of vehicle registration certificates;

- the Council will evaluate the implementation of the Decision by 30 December 2007.

DATE OF EFFECT : 30/12/2004.