2002/956/JHA: Council Decision of 28 November 2002 setting up a European Network for the Protection of Public Figures
Date: 2002-11-28
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, EU police cooperation, crime against individuals, exchange of information, information network, official visit

10.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 333/1

(Acts adopted pursuant to Title VI of the Treaty on European Union)

COUNCIL DECISION

of 28 November 2002

setting up a European Network for the Protection of Public Figures

(2002/956/JHA)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in parti-
cular Article 30(1)(a) and (c) and Article 34(2)(c) thereof,

Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Spain (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Apart
from the Council Recommendation of 6
December 2001 setting a common scale for assessing
threats to public figures visiting the European Union (3),
no 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.

The possibility of assaults and attacks to those figures
cannot be excluded.

The protection of public figures is the responsibility of
the host Member State. Protective measures of the host
Member State are based solely on the legal provisions in
force in that Member State and the relevant international
agreements.

The increased travel by public figures within the Union
requires a formal channel
for communication and
consultation between national Authorities,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

A European network for the protection of public figures,

1.
hereinafter referred to as ‘the Network’, is hereby created.

2.
The Network shall consist of the national police services
and other services responsible for the protection of the public
figures. Each Member State shall designate a single contact
point. Information concerning the designated national contact

(1) OJ C 42, 15.2.2002, p. 14.
(2) Opinion delivered on 30 May 2002 (not yet published in the Offi-

cial Journal).

(3) OJ C 356, 14.12.2001, p. 1.

points, including subsequent modifications, shall be transmitted
to the General Secretariat of the Council which shall publish
the information in the Official Journal.

Article 2

For the purposes of this Decision, ‘public figure’ shall mean any
person to whom a protection service is assigned in accordance
with the national legislation of a Member State or pursuant to
the regulations of an international or supranational organisa-
tion or institution.

Article 3

The Network activity shall be promoted by the Member

1.
State holding the Presidency of the Council.

Candidate countries and Europol may also designate a

2.
contact point to participate in the Network.

The Presidency shall consider, on a case-by-case basis, on the
participation of the Commission and the General Secretariat of
the Council in the activities of the Network as referred to in
Article 4(a), (b), (c) and (d).

Article 4

The Network shall have the following objectives:

(a) promoting the exchange of

information between the

departments participating in the Network, in particular:

— general

and technical

information and experience

regarding the protection of public figures,

— information on the most appropriate

for
selecting and training appropriate staff of the services
which are responsible for the protection of public
figures;

criteria

(b) promoting the development of a set of common best prac-
tices as regards operational activities undertaken by the
departments participating in the Network;

(c) promoting the mutual secondment of officials of

the

departments participating in the Network;

L 333/2

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Official Journal of the European Communities

10.12.2002

(d) allowing the departments participating in the Network to
exchange information, communicate and develop common
views on:

points, concerning the application of security in cases
where the protection of a public figure has to be assured in
two or more Member States.

— procedures and requests for authorisation by the host
Member State of the presence in its territory of the
protection services of the requesting State accompa-
nying a public figure,

— methods of common action to prevent assaults and
including the way in which officials and

attacks,
resources could be deployed,

— protocols on the priority to be granted to the protected

public figure during movement of delegations,

— collaboration with relevant

law enforcement services

and other public departments,

— recommendations regarding media;

(e) favouring the exchange,

in accordance with the national
legislation, of operational information, either through the
contact points or by means of direct contacts between the
responsible services, as communicated by the contact

Article 5

The Network shall submit an annual report to the Council on
the development of its activities. The Council will evaluate the
activities of the Network every three years.

Article 6

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

Done at Brussels, 28 November 2002.

For the Council

The President

B. HAARDER