Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

**Council of the**
**European Union**

**Interinstitutional File:**

**2020/0248(NLE)**

**OUTCOME OF PROCEEDINGS**

From: General Secretariat of the Council

On: 20 October 2020

To: Delegations

No. prev. doc.: 11288/20

**Brussels, 22 October 2020**
**(OR. en)**

**12174/20**

**SCH-EVAL 164**
**ENFOPOL 258**
**COMIX 495**

Subject: Council Implementing Decision setting out a recommendation on
addressing the deficiencies identified in the 2019 evaluation of **Slovakia** on
the application of the Schengen acquis in the field of **police cooperation**

Delegations will find enclosed the Council Implementing Decision setting out a Recommendation

on addressing the deficiencies identified in the 2019 evaluation of Slovakia on the application of the

Schengen acquis in the field of police cooperation, adopted by written procedure on

20 October 2020.

In line with Article 15(3) of Council Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013 of 7 October 2013, this

Recommendation will be forwarded to the European Parliament and national Parliaments.

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Council Implementing Decision setting out a

**RECOMMENDATION**

**on addressing the deficiencies identified in the 2019 evaluation of Slovakia on the application**

**of the Schengen acquis in the field of police cooperation**

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013 of 7 October 2013 establishing an

evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis and

repealing the Decision of the Executive Committee of 16 September 1998 setting up a Standing

Committee on the evaluation and implementation of Schengen **[1]**, and in particular Article 15 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The purpose of this Decision is to recommend to Slovakia remedial actions to address the

deficiencies identified during the Schengen evaluation in the field of the police cooperation

carried out in 2019. Following the evaluation, a report covering the findings and

assessments, listing best practices and deficiencies identified during the evaluation was

adopted by Commission Implementing Decision C(2020) 4100.

(2) In light of the importance of the necessary improvements to the application of police

cooperation priority should be given to implementing recommendations 1, 4 and 8 in this

Decision.

**1** OJ L 295, 6.11.2013, p. 27.

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(3) This Decision should be transmitted to the European Parliament and to the national

parliaments of the Member States. Within six months of its adoption, Slovakia should,

pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013, provide the Commission with

an assessment of the improvements and with a description of required actions,

RECOMMENDS:

that Slovakia should:

1. Swiftly develop a risk analysis strategy taking into account cross border threats and

incorporating threats identified by police units at all levels and build up a national single

threat assessment system for the police;

2. Develop guidelines (including practical examples) for the choice of channels for international

police cooperation and make them accessible at all levels of the police;

3. Enhance the collection and analysis by the International Police Cooperation Office of data

regarding the implementation of the relevant articles of the Schengen Convention (i.a.. articles

39 to 41) in order to improve the evaluation and management of cross border operations;

4. Make all relevant international databases and channels, including Europol’s Secure

Information Exchange Network Application, directly available 24/7 to all divisions of the

IPCO;

5. Grant access to Europol’s Secure Information Exchange Network Application to relevant

police units outside the International Police Cooperation Office at best notice (in line with the

current plans), as well as to other law enforcement agencies (e.g. the Asset Recovery Office

and the Financial Administration especially the Financial Administration Criminal Office)

and consider granting access to Police (and customs) cooperation centres;

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6. Extend the access to and increase the use of the Europol Information System within the police

and other law enforcement agencies, for instance in the context of the deployment of the

Querying Europol’s Systems (QUEST) IT tool;

7. Ensure the automated crosschecking of data from incoming requests against the International

Police Cooperation Office case management system and the national databases;

8. Improve the technical functionalities and increase the number of mobile equipment enabling

access to relevant national and international databases;

9. Raise awareness about the benefits and increase the use of the Council Framework Decision

2006/960/JHA of 18 December 2006 on simplifying the exchange of information and

intelligence between law enforcement authorities of the Member States of the European

Union ;

10. Raise awareness on the proper use of the Council Decision 2008/633/JHA of 23 June 2008

concerning access for consultation of the Visa Information System by designated authorities

of Member States and by Europol for the purposes of the prevention, detection and

investigation of terrorist offences and of other serious criminal offences;

11. Develop and promote a user-friendly e-learning platform available to all police officers

covering the international police cooperation issues and any other topics of professional

interest;

12. Promote and enhance the availability of language training to police staff, especially in the

context of continuous training;

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13. Develop and update basic and continuous training of police officers on the Schengen _acquis_

and on the use of national and international tools such as the Schengen Information System,

Europol’s Secure Information Exchange Network Application, Europol Information System

and Interpol databases. Dedicated training for the International Police Cooperation Office

staff should be given priority;

14. Evaluate the interest of more presence of the Financial Administration at the Police (and

Customs) Cooperation Centres and at Europol liaison bureau for enhanced law enforcement

cooperation;

15. Consider solutions for extending radio communications coverage within the neighbouring

countries for the purpose of cross border operations.

Done at Brussels,

_For the Council_

_The President_

__________________

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