THE European Parliament has called for the speedy ratification of the Europol Convention, which permits co operation between EU police forces in the fight against drugs and organised, crime. Terrorism, trafficking in nuclear substances and illegal immigration networks will also be targeted by Europol.
But the MEPs also asked national parliaments, not to go ahead with the ratification until the Court of Justice is allowed a role in disputes over the powers of Europol, which is to be based in the Hague. Britain has been objecting to such a role but the Netherlands is refusing to ratify until the Court is assured of such powers.
It is hoped that this dispute can be settled at the Rome EU Summit next June. It is also hoped to give Europol investigative powers at a later date. In its first phase it will be limited to the gathering and analysing of information made available by national authorities, possibly by computerised databases.
The Parliament has also asked national parliaments to ensure laws are passed to forbid Europol including in its records personal data dealing with the religion, race or political beliefs of individuals.
Fianna Fail MEP Mr Brian Crowley criticised the British government for "effectively stalling" the Europol programme. He said there must be increased control on the white collar crime and money laundering that goes with the drug trade.
Ms Bernie Malone of Labour said that Europol should be able to investigate the extent of fraud in the beef industry in Ireland. Europol should be endowed with retrospective powers which would allow it to go after the EU beef fraudsters in Ireland," she said. She also, said Europol should give priority to drugs smuggling and cited "the recent spate of violent drug related attacks in Ireland, many of them on the elderly".
The German Christian Democrat, Mr Hartmut Nassauer, who presented the report on Europol, said that while it was being set up without its own executive powers, it could "revolutionise the fight against crime in Europe and give the police authorities in the member states on line access to all the investigative data held on national intormation systems".
This would put an end to "parallel investigations" being carried out into the same offenders or criminal organisations without one national authority knowing about the others.
The Parliament also welcomed the proposed directive on parental leave based on a recent agreement between the EU's employers and, trade unions. When it comes into force, it will provide for three months unpaid leave to be taken by either parent of a child up to the age of eight.