Europese Commissie baant de weg voor verhoogde transparantie en parlementaire controle van Europol (en)
The European Commission adopted today a Communication which paves the way for a more robust parliamentary control system of Europol i's activities. The communication supports the idea of creating a joint body through which the European Parliament and national Parliaments can exercise control over Europol. It also proposes ways to increase transparency in Europol's work.
"Europol's important mission to strengthen our work against organised crime and terrorism has the potential to deeply affect the daily life of EU citizens. It is important to provide our elected representatives with tools to effectively scrutinize Europol and ensure an increased transparency in their work. An enhanced parliamentary control of Europol is a step in strengthening the transparency, accountability and democratic legitimacy of the EU ", said Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs.
Europol is the prime actor in EU cross-border law enforcement cooperation, operating as a support centre. It has, however, no coercive powers. Europol's key role in the exchange of information, including personal data, calls for appropriate parliamentary accountability.
In line with the ambition of the Lisbon Treaty, an increased parliamentary oversight of Europol's activities will contribute to a more democratic and transparent Europe. With the most recent Council decision establishing Europol (2009/371/JHA), the European Parliament has already gained new powers in relation to the EU Agency, and is directly involved in steering its activities. For national Parliaments, on the other hand, the supervision has so far been mainly indirect and exercised through the control of their governmental representatives on Europol's Management Board.
Given Europol's lack of coercive or autonomous investigative means of action, the existing control mechanisms are considered to be legally adequate, but the Commission considers a closer and deeper scrutiny desirable. The Commission supports the idea to set up a permanent joint or inter-parliamentary forum in order to unify parliamentary control. The role of the European Parliament in debating Europol's annual work programme and the long term strategic goals should also be strengthened (notably through regular updates of Europol's operational achievements).
On the basis of its conclusions and recommendations, the Commission hopes that institutions and other stakeholders will be able to provide further contributions in order to shape the forthcoming procedures for the parliamentary scrutiny of Europol. This discussion will take place in the context of the ongoing reflection on Europol's future legal framework.
Background
Article 88 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) provides for a new legal regime for Europol, whose structure and tasks should be defined in a Regulation to be adopted by co-decision. One aspect of the future European Parliament and EU Council regulation relates to the procedures for scrutiny of Europol's activities by the European Parliament together with national Parliaments.
The Communication adopted today will contribute to the debate on this aspect of the future regulation. Following the Action Plan implementing the Stockholm programme, the Commission intends to make a proposal for a regulation on Europol by 2013.
For more information
Homepage of Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/welcome/default_en.htm