COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 14 October 1996 laying down the priorities for cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1998 (96/C 319/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

in response to the request of the European Council that it organize its work on cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs, provided for in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, by determining the activities which should be carried out as a matter of priority in pursuit of the objectives fixed at the Madrid Summit on 15 and 16 December 1995,

reiterating its ambition to promote liberty, security and justice in the European Union, in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, by developing close cooperation between the Member States in the fields of justice and home affairs,

HEREBY ADOPTS THIS RESOLUTION:

I. The Council intends to pursue the objectives defined by the European Council concentrating priority on the following topics in the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1998:

1. Combating terrorism:

(a) strengthening cooperation between the Member States;

(b) updating the document on the terrorist threat;

(c) drawing up a list of counter-terrorist centres of excellence;

2. Combating organized crime and drugs:

2.1. police and customs cooperation:

(a) implementation of the Europol Convention (implementing regulations, computer system) and monitoring of the Europol Drugs Unit (EDU);

(b) police training, in particular through cooperation between police training schools;

(c) strengthened technical cooperation, in particular with regard to interception of communications, cooperation between forensic laboratories, cooperation between national criminal intelligence services;

(d) update of the situation report on organized crime and implementation of its recommendations;

(e) draft 'Naples II` Convention;

(f) strategies for external frontier control;

(g) combating counterfeiting and illegal trade in works of art;

2.2 drug control:

(a) implementation of the report by the Group of experts on drugs adopted by the European Council in Madrid on 15 and 16 December 1995 at the judicial, police and customs levels, particularly in the field of supply reduction and international cooperation;

(b) mechanism to combat drug abuse in Latin America, including the Caribbean;

(c) examination of the extent to which the harmonization of Member States' laws could contribute towards reducing the consumption and supply of drugs in the European Union;

3. Improving judicial cooperation:

3.1. in civil matters:

(a) draft Convention on the services of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters;

(b) draft 'Brussels II` Convention (on matrimonial matters and custody of children);

(c) launching of discussions on the necessity and possibility of drawing up a European enforcement order and a convention on the law applicable to extracontractual obligations;

3.2. in criminal matters:

(a) draft Convention on extradition;

(b) draft Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters;

(c) analysis and adaptation of existing instruments concerning other forms of judicial cooperation;

(d) draft Convention on the enforcement of driving disqualifications;

(e) combating counterfeiting;

3.3. in civil and criminal matters:

implementation of the joint action concerning the liaison magistrates and consideration of the desirability of setting up a network of contact magistrates;

4. Improvement of cooperation with regard to immigration and asylum:

(a) implementation of the Dublin Convention;

(b) harmonization of national procedures for granting the right to asylum;

(c) harmonization of conditions for the reception of asylum applicants;

(d) development of the Eurodac system (Convention and technical specifications);

(e) examination of the legal status of third-country nationals residing legally in the territory of the Member States;

(f) examination of the problems of temporary protection and burden-sharing;

(g) examination of forms of alternative protection (de facto protection and humanitarian residence permit);

(h) strengthening measures to combat illegal immigration, especially illegal immigration networks, and illegal employment;

(i) improving cooperation with countries of origin;

(j) improving cooperation regarding the expulsion of illegal immigrants; problems of readmission;

(k) false documents: development of a harmonized image filing and transmission system; practical cooperation;

(l) examination of the problem of family reunification;

5. Stepping up checks on persons at external frontiers:

(a) draft Convention on the crossing of external frontiers and implementing measures;

(b) draft Convention on the European Information System (EIS);

(c) increased operational cooperation between authorities carrying out checks at external frontiers;

(d) visas: mutual recognition of visas; manual and other implementing measures; updating of relevant regulations;

6. Combating racism and xenophobia:

(a) assessment of the recommendations of the consultative committee on racism and xenophobia;

(b) continuation of work, both at judicial (monitoring of joint action against racism and xenophobia) and police level;

7. Combating corruption and fraud affecting the Community's financial interests:

(a) draft second Protocol to the Convention on the protection of the Community's financial interests;

(b) draft Convention on corruption;

8. Horizontal actions:

(a) preventing crime;

(b) combating trafficking in human beings.

II. In support of the priority activities listed in point I, the Council will encourage the exchange of officials and magistrates between Member States and - if need be by granting Community financing - the organization of seminars and conferences and the establishment of training programmes.

The Council will endeavour, wherever possible, to coordinate the positions of Member States in international organizations and at international conferences when they deal with a topic connected with the priorities defined in point I.

Finally, the Council will carry out periodic checks of the implementation by the Member States of the binding instruments adopted under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union.

III. The Council's activities in respect of cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs with third countries will be covered by one or more separate work programmes.

With regard to countries involved in a structured dialogue with the European Union, cooperation will focus particularly on combating organized crime and drug trafficking.

IV. Without prejudice to the right of initiative of Member States and the Commission as provided for in Article K.3 (2) of the Treaty on European Union, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Committee set up by Article K.4 (1) of that Treaty, will confer on a programme, in principle at the beginning of each Presidency and in any event once a year, in order to lay down the priorities for the following two years. On that occasion, the Council will decide which activities must be removed from the list of priorities, either because they have already been successfully completed, or because achieving them in the short term is impossible or is no longer a priority, and which other activities must be regarded as having priority and be included in the programme.

V. This resolution and the Annex thereto will be sent to the European Parliament and published in the Official Journal.

ANNEX

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