Initiative of the Kingdom of Spain setting up a European network for the protection of public figures
Date: 2002-02-15
Institutions: Spain
Subjects: EU police cooperation, Spain, approximation of laws, crime against individuals, physical aggression, vocational training

C 42/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

15.2.2002

Initiative of the Kingdom of Spain setting up a European network for the protection of public
figures

(2002/C 42/08)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in
particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Spain,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) No European Union legislation, standards or manuals of a
general nature exist to govern the protection of public
figures, whether they be national public figures or those
of Community or foreign origin.

(2) Dignitaries and public figures have been assassinated or
attacked on a number of occasions and, although it is
improbable,
there is nothing to prevent such incidents
recurring in future,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

(c) setting up a database on, in particular, assaults and attacks

on public figures, case studies and methods used;

(d) approximating the existing rules and regulations in each

Member State.

Article 4

In order to achieve the proposed objectives, the network shall
be competent to:

(a) simplify the procedures by drawing up a standard form in

all Member States;

(b) determine

the maximum number of

armed officials
according to the public figure involved and the resources
to be deployed;

(c) outline the conditions for provision of service by officials
with responsibility for the protection of a public figure of
one Member State when they are in or enter another
Member State;

Article 1

(d) study common methods of action to prevent assaults and

A European network for the protection of public figures, here-
inafter known as (cid:145)the network(cid:146), is hereby created.

The network shall be chaired by the national authority with
responsibility for
the
Member State holding the Presidency of the Council.

the protection of public figures of

The network shall be assisted by the Secretariat of the Council.

Article 2

The network shall consist of contact points of the national
police departments with responsibility for the protection of
public figures, designated by each Member State.

Candidate countries for accession to the European Union, the
Commission and Europol may also designate a contact point to
be included in the network.

Article 3

In addition to furthering cooperation and collaboration
between the police departments with responsibility for the
protection of public figures,
the network shall have the
following objectives:

attacks;

(e) adopt

joint protocols on the priority granted to the
protected public figure during movements of delegations;

(f) collaborate with other police forces and other departments;

(g) establish common rules to be observed in connection with
figure

to the public

accreditation and media access
involved.

Article 5

The network shall, each year, draw up its operating budget,
which will be approved by the Council.

Article 6

The Council shall carry out an evaluation of the network’s
activities two years after this Decision takes effect.

Article 7

This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its
adoption by the Council.

(a) exchanging information, officials and experience concerned

Done at . . .

with the protection of public figures;

(b) standardising criteria for selecting and training appropriate
staff with responsibility in each Member State for the
protection of public figures;

For the Council

The President

. . .