European Parliament legislative resolution on the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with a view to adopting a Council Decision on protecting the euro against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting (14811/2004 - C6-0221/2004 - 2004/0817(CNS))
Date: 2005-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Europol, economic offence, euro, fight against crime, powers of the institutions (EU)

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Tuesday 12 April 2005

P6_TA(2005)0083

TEXTS ADOPTED

Common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) ***I

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parlia-
ment and the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of
the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics
(NUTS) by reason of the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hun-
gary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union (COM(2004)0592 — C6-0118/
2004 — 2004/0202(COD))

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the proposal of the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (COM

(2004)0592) (1),

— having regard to Article 251(2) and Article 285 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission

submitted its proposal (C6-0118/2004),

— having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A6-0067/2005),

1.

Approves the Commission proposal;

Asks the Commission to reconsult Parliament should it propose to amend its proposal substantially or

2.
replace it by another text;

3.
Supports the Commission in submitting a communication to the European Parliament and the Coun-
cil on the appropriateness of establishing rules on a Europe-wide basis for more detailed levels in the NUTS
classification, as provided for in Article 2(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for
statistics (NUTS) (2);

4.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.
(2) OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1.

P6_TA(2005)0084

Designation of Europol as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the
Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland with a view to adopting a Council Decision on protecting the euro
against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the Central Office for combating euro counter-
feiting (14811/2004 — C6-0221/2004 — 2004/0817(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French
Republic, the Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (14811/
2004) (1),

(1) Not yet published in OJ.

9.2.2006

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— having regard to Articles 30(1)(c) and 34(2)(c) of the EU Treaty,

— having regard to Article 39(1) of the EU Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C6-0221/2004),

— having regard to Rules 93 and 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the

opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A6-0079/2005),

Approves the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Repub-

1.
lic, the Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as amended;

2.

3.

Calls on the Council to amend the text accordingly;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4.
Calls on the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend substantially the initiative of
the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission, and the governments of
5.
the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

TEXT PROPOSED BY
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 1
Recital 1

(1) As the legal currency of 12 Member States, the euro has
increasingly become a global currency and has therefore
become a high-priority target of
international counterfeiting
organisations.

(1) As the legal currency of 12 Member States, the euro has
gradually taken on extraordinary global importance and euro
counterfeiting is therefore a high-priority target of domestic
and international criminal organisations operating both within
and outside the European Union.

(2) The euro has also become the target of third-country
counterfeiters.

Deleted

Amendment 2
Recital 2

Amendment 3
Recital 3a (new)

(3a) On their own, individual Member States cannot provide
appropriate protection for the euro, since euro banknotes and
coins circulate outside the territory of the Member States
belonging to the monetary union.

Amendment 4
Recital 3b (new)

(3b) Cooperation among the Member States themselves and
between the Member States and Europol needs to be stepped
up in order to strengthen the system for the protection of the
euro outside European Union territory.

C 33 E/134

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TEXT PROPOSED BY
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 5
Recital 4

(4) The Convention for the Prevention of Counterfeiting Cur-
rency, agreed on 20 April 1929 in Geneva (hereinafter referred
to as ‘Geneva Convention’), should be applied more effectively
under the conditions of European integration.

the Suppression of
(4) The International Convention for
Counterfeiting Currency, agreed on 20 April 1929 in Geneva
(hereinafter referred to as ‘Geneva Convention’), and the addi-
tional Protocol thereto, should be applied more effectively with
a view to ensuring comprehensive, effective and consistent
protection of the euro.

Amendment 6
Recital 5

(5) Third countries need a central contact for information on
counterfeit euros and all
information on counterfeit euros
should be brought together at Europol for purposes of analysis.

(5) Third countries need a central contact for information on
counterfeit euros and all
information on counterfeit euros
should be brought together at Europol for purposes of analysis
alongside and in close cooperation with the national central
offices of the Member States.

Amendment 7
Recital 6

(6)
In view of Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of
28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protec-
tion of the euro against counterfeiting, the Council considers it
appropriate for all Member States to become contracting parties
to the Geneva Convention and set up central offices within the
meaning of Article 12 of the Convention.

(6)
In view of the Council Framework Decision of 29 May
2000 on increasing protection by criminal penalties and
other sanctions against counterfeiting in connection with the
introduction of the euro (1) and in view of Council Regulation
(EC) No 1338/2001 of 28 June 2001 laying down measures
necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting,
the Council considers it appropriate for all Member States to
become contracting parties to the Geneva Convention and set
up central offices within the meaning of Article 12 of the Con-
vention.

(1) OJ L 140, 14.6.2000, p. 1.

Amendment 8
Recital 7

(7) The Council considers it appropriate to designate Europol
as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting within
the meaning of Article 12 of the Geneva Convention,

(7) The Council considers it appropriate to designate Europol
as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting (a task
which it will perform in close cooperation with the national
central offices of the Member States) within the meaning of
Article 12 of the Geneva Convention,

Amendment 9
Article 1, paragraph 1

1.
For the Member States which are Contracting Parties to
the Geneva Convention, namely Austria, Belgium, the Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hun-
gary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Por-
tugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Europol shall,
in accordance with the Declaration in the annex hereto (herein-
after referred to as the ‘Declaration’), act as the central office for
combating euro counterfeiting within the meaning of the first
sentence of Article 12 of the Geneva Convention. For counter-
feiting of all other currencies and for central office functions not
delegated to Europol pursuant to the Declaration, the existing
competencies of
the national central offices shall remain in
effect.

For all the Member States Europol shall,

1.
in accordance
with the Declaration in the annex hereto (hereinafter referred
to as the ‘Declaration’), act as the European Union central office
for protecting the euro against counterfeiting within the mean-
ing of the first sentence of Article 12 of the Geneva Convention,
alongside and in close cooperation with the national central
offices of the Member States. For counterfeiting of all other
currencies and for central office functions delegated or not del-
egated to Europol pursuant to the Declaration, the existing com-
petencies of the national central offices shall remain in effect.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

TEXT PROPOSED BY
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Amendment 10
Article 1, paragraph 2

2. Member States, which are not yet Contracting Parties to
the Geneva Convention, namely Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia, shall accede to the
Geneva Convention. Upon acceding to the Geneva Convention,
they shall, in accordance with the Declaration, designate Euro-
pol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting in
accordance with the first sentence of Article 12 of the Geneva
Convention.

Deleted

Amendment 11
Article 2, paragraph 1

The governments of the Member States which are Con-
1.
tracting Parties to the Geneva Convention shall
issue the
Declaration and commission the representative of the Federal
Republic of Germany to forward the Declarations to the Secre-
tary-General of the United Nations.

The governments of the Member States shall

1.
issue the
Declaration and commission the representative of the Federal
Republic of Germany to forward the Declarations to the Secre-
tary-General of the United Nations.

Amendment 12
Article 2, paragraph 2

2.
The governments of the Member States which are not
yet Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention shall, in
the event of accession, promptly issue the Declaration and
commission the representative of the Federal Republic of Ger-
many to forward the Declaration to the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.

Deleted

Amendment 13
Annex, first introductory sentence

…, a Member State of the European Union, has given the Euro-
pean Police Office (hereinafter referred to as ‘Europol’) a man-
date to combat euro counterfeiting.

…, a Member State of the European Union, has given the Euro-
pean Police Office (hereinafter referred to as ‘Europol’) a man-
date to act as the European Union's central office for action to
combat euro counterfeiting for the purposes of the Geneva
Convention — a task which it will perform alongside and in
close cooperation with the national central offices of the
Member States.

Amendment 14
Annex, point 1.1

1.1. Europol shall centralise and process, in accordance with the
Europol Convention, all information of a nature to facilitate
euro
investigation, prevention and combating of
the
counterfeiting and shall forward this information without
delay to the national central offices of the EU Member
States.

1.1. Europol shall centralise and process, in accordance with the
Europol Convention and in close cooperation with the
all
national
information of a nature to facilitate the investigation, pre-
vention and combating of euro counterfeiting.

the Member States,

central offices of

Amendment 15
Annex, point 1.5, introductory sentence.

1.5.

Except in cases of purely local

interest, Europol shall,
insofar as it considers it expedient, notify the central office
of third countries of:

1.5.

Except in cases of purely local

interest, Europol shall,
insofar as it considers it expedient and taking into account
the provisos contained in the Council Act of 12 March
1999 adopting the rules governing the transmission of
personal data by Europol
to third States and third
bodies (1), notify the central office of third countries of:

(1) OJ C 88, 30.3.1999, p. 1.

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TEXT PROPOSED BY
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Amendment 16
Annex, point 1.7

1.7. Where Europol is unable to carry out the tasks specified
in points 1.1 to 1.6 in accordance with the Europol Con-
vention, the national central offices of the Member States
shall retain competence.

Deleted

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 17
Annex, point 1a (new)

1a. The powers assigned to Europol for the purpose of pro-
tecting the euro against counterfeiting within the frame-
work of the Geneva Convention shall be exercised along-
side those of the national central offices of the Member
States and in close cooperation with those offices.

Amendment 18
Annex, point 2

2. With regard to the counterfeiting of all other currencies
and for central office functions not delegated to Europol
in accordance with point 1, the existing competencies of
the national central offices shall remain in effect.

2. With regard to measures to protect against the counterfeit-
ing of all other currencies, the existing competencies of the
national central offices shall remain in effect.

P6_TA(2005)0085

European Police College (CEPOL) *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing the
European Police College (CEPOL) as a body of the European Union (COM(2004)0623 — C6-0203/
2004 — 2004/0215(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal (COM(2004)0623) (1),

— having regard to Articles 30(1)(c) and 34(2)(c) of the EU Treaty,

— having regard to Article 39(1) of the EU Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C6-0203/2004),

— having regard to Rules 93 and 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the

opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A6-0059/2005),

1.

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.
Considers that the financial statement of the Commission proposal for the period 2005-2006 is com-
patible with the ceiling of heading 3 of the current Financial Perspective without restricting other policies;
recalls that the appropriations for the period after 2006 will be subject to the decision on the new financial
framework; requests the Commission, if applicable, to propose adjusted amounts for the period after 2006
to ensure consistency with the new ceilings;

(1) Not yet published in OJ.