EU: Joint Action on Europol Drugs Unit
01 January 1991
EU: Joint Action on Europol Drugs Unit
actdoc July=1995
JOINT ACTION of 10 March 1995
adopted by the Council on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty
on European Union concerning the Europol Drugs Unit
(95/73/JHA)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to Article K.3 (2) (b) of the Treaty on European
Union,
Having regard to the initiative of the Federal Republic of
Germany,
Whereas the Member States consider as a matter of common interest
the creation of the Europol Drugs Unit in accordance with Article
K.1 (9) of the Treaty;
Whereas, at its meeting held in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 June
1991, the European Council noted proposals for the setting up of
a European Police Office (Europol), agreed on the objectives
defined in these proposals and recommended that these proposals
be examined further;
Whereas, in the report they submitted to the European Council on
4 December 1991, the Ministers unanimously agreed on the setting
up of Europol, beginning with a drugs intelligence unit which
would then be developed in the near future;
Whereas, at its meeting held in Maastricht on 9 and 10 December
1991, the European Council agreed on the creation of Europol, the
initial function of which would be to organize the exchange of
information on narcotic drugs between the Member States, and
instructed the Ministers to take, at an early date, such measures
as were needed for this purpose;
Whereas, at its meeting held in Lisbon on 26 and 27 June 1992,
the European Council recommended that a Convention on the
establishment of Europol be drawn up;
Whereas Member States need to cooperate in an appropriate
structure before the entry into force of such a Convention;
Whereas, in view of the urgent need to deal with the problems
posed by international illicit drug trafficking, associated money
laundering and organized crime, the Ministers recommended at
their special meeting on 18 September 1992 that Europol's first
phase, the Europol Drugs Unit, be in place by 1 January 1993 at
the latest;
Whereas the Representatives of the Governments of the Member
States, meeting at Head of State and Government level, decided
on the location of the seats of certain bodies and departments
of the European Communities and of Europol, according to which
Europol and the Europol Drugs Unit were to have their seat in The
Hague;
Whereas the Member States already have a provisional framework
for cooperation in the form of the Europol Drugs Unit,
established by ministerial agreement of 2 June 1993 concerning
the setting up of the said Unit which has been operational since
January 1994;
Whereas, at its meeting held on 9 and 10 December 1994 in Essen,
the European Council decided to extend the mandate of the Europol
Drugs Unit to the fight against illegal trade in radioactive and
nuclear materials, crimes involving clandestine immigration
networks, illegal vehicle trafficking and associated money-
laundering operations;
Whereas, in the conclusions of the European Council of 9 and 10
December 1994, it was decided that the Convention on the
establishment of Europol should be concluded at the latest by the
European Council in Cannes and whereas there is the will to take
all the steps necessary to achieve this aim,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article I
The following rules shall apply to the Europol Drugs Unit
initially set up by the ministerial agreement of 2 June 1993,
hereinafter referred to as 'the Unit'.
Article 2
Objectives and scope
1. Each Member State shall send one or more liaison officers
to The Hague in order to constitute, with the liaison officers
of the other Member States, a team which will cooperate within
the Unit.
2. The Unit shall act as a non-operational team for the
exchange and analysis of information and intelligence, as soon
as they affect two or more Member States, in relation to:
(a) illicit drug traffickin