Objective Action Timetable Responsible Party Assessment Tool/Indicator

1. To improve the strategic and tactical intelligence picture on trafficking in human beings and enable an intelligence led approach. (a) Member States to agree to share information via I/24/7 and the trafficking and smuggling messaging service system to Interpol, to share pertinent information and intelligence with Europol, and Europol to strengthen links with Interpol. By June 2006 Member States and Europol. Europol to report to Europol Management Board on information sharing from Member States, and on status of wider cooperation with Interpol.

(b) Make use of the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA) to assist with an EU wide assessment and prioritisation of action. April 2006 Member States (having been supplied the OCTA by Europol) Europol to have produced the OCTA. Member States to be using it to plan operational priorities.

(c) EU to strengthen formal links to International Organisations to tap into data on routes, sources and methods. — Europol to develop formal liaison arrangements in line with the guidance of the Europol Management Board. — Council to support a networking event for international organisations/law enforcement to develop links. June 2006 Europol and Member States through the Council. Networking Event takes place. Europol to report to the Europol Management Board about future external arrangements.

(d) Member States to put intelligence into the concerned Analytical Work File at Europol. June 2006 Member States and Europol. Europol to report to the Council structures on further developments.

(e) Europol and FRONTEX to develop complementary cooperation, especially with regard to their analytical activities concerning the phenomenon. June 2006 Europol and FRONTEX Europol and FRONTEX to report to the Council structures.

2. To improve the ability of Member States to investigate trafficking effectively (a) CEPOL to take the lead in developing AGIS funded resources including recent guideline manuals and other resources such as the Interpol manual, into a core curriculum for senior police officers — to be cascaded as appropriate. CEPOL to then regularly organise specific training for law enforcement personnel on trafficking. Training should consider trafficking within the context of migrant smuggling also. End of 2006 CEPOL CEPOL to report to MDG on progress regularly. CEPOL annual report to Council to contain specific information on this work.

3. To improve the operational cooperation between Member States on trafficking. (a) Member States to consider ways in which information concerning law enforcement officers in Member States who are involved closely in human trafficking work who have specialist language skills (e.g. specialist oriental or African languages) can be disseminated more widely (this would mean that where bi or multi-lateral joint investigation teams are being put together by different Member States they can consider including such officers in teams as appropriate and in sofar as national operational demands on such officers permit). Ongoing PCTF/Europol Centre of Excellence Issue to be discussed in PCTF strategic meetings.

(b) PCTF and Europol to report annually on how trafficking has been taken forward within their work programmes. First Report by December 2006 PCTF/Europol Recommendations considered in drafting Europol work programme and revising COSPOL strategy.

(c) PCTF to monitor operational cooperation between Member States on trafficking and where appropriate make recommendations for its improvement. First Report by December 2006 PCTF Discussion regularly in strategic meetings of the Police Chiefs' Task Force with recommendations being made to Council as and when appropriate.

(d) Develop a manual of contacts for law enforcement agencies across EU to cover out of hours contacts and background on procedures in place in each Member State. Mid 2006 or earlier if possible PCTF PCTF to report and consider manual in their strategic meeting in 2006.

4. To enable more effective cooperation in investigations and prosecutions against trafficking. (a) Member States to make maximum use of Eurojust and its coordinating role and the European Judicial Network. End of 2006 Member States/Eurojust Eurojust to report to Council as part of their annual report on trafficking investigations they have assisted with.

(b) The creation of a specialist network of practitioners with specialist expertise in prosecuting trafficking cases, including those dealing with children. This network would consider developing training for prosecutors in due course. End of 2006 Presidency/Eurojust/European Judicial Network Network contacts circulated.

(c) To develop greater awareness of the particular issues raised in trafficking cases, including those involving children, with the judiciary in Member States. Mid 2007 European Judicial Network in partnership with Eurojust and ERA. Efficient, effective and informed case file management. EJN to report back with recommendations concerning ways to improve case file management.

(d) As part of the evaluation of the Council Framework Decision on trafficking in human beings, to review the legal frameworks in place across Member States to address trafficking, in particular child trafficking End of 2006 Commission and Member States Commission evaluation of Council Framework Decision completed.