Integrating the Europol convention into the European Treaties and its potential transpillarisation

Introduction

Since 2002 it was agreed that the procedure for amendment of the Europol convention should be simplified. Several options have been elaborated. At this moment there is no political consensus on a final decision in how integrating the Europol convention into the European Treaties and its potential transpillarisation, nor on the procedure, neither on its scope.

Today we have several hundred decisions, framework decisions and conventions that prove the livelihood of third-pillar cooperation. In the course of time, the EC has created a number of agencies [1] which now carry out more or less independently some duties, more particularly with reference to information management and inspections. Most of these organs, bodies or organisations have different legal status and different working procedures and regulations.

In matters of law enforcement, Europol stood in 1995 alone as an institutional player within the EU and Europol is the only organisation, also within the framework of the third pillar, having been created on the basis of a convention. Eurojust is in the process of establishing itself as a partner in the field of judicial cooperation. Sitcen was created to support political decision making in the arena of counter-terrorism. With Cepol a new EU-organisation was set up with the aim of helping Member States in the training of their law enforcement staff. And, finally Frontex will help Member States in their efforts to effectively secure the EU’s external borders. Olaf (first pillar organisation) was given the role to deal with irregular activities having an impact on the EU’s financial interests.

Integration the Europol convention into the European treaties is a realistic but difficult option; its potential transpillarisation is a problematic, maybe unrealistic objective.

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Integrating the Europol convention into the European Treaties and its potential transpillarisation