24 September Justice and Home Affairs Council

Date: 01/10/1998

MINISTERS discussed the entry into force of the convention formally establishing the Europol police agency today (1 October). They noted, however, that the agency would not be able to start work until certain legal aspects of the convention had been approved. These include rules governing the obligations of Europol staff and the regulations for its controlling joint supervisory body. Austrian Interior Minister Karl Schlögel and Justice Minister Nikolaus Michalek also urged all member states to ratify the protocol to the convention which will grant diplomatic immunity to Europol staff. Only eight countries have so far done this.

MANY delegations expressed concern that large numbers of refugees fleeing the fighting in Kosovo could soon begin arriving on EU territory. The worries were aired during a debate on the implementation of an EU action plan on immigration drawn up earlier this year after Iraqi Kurds landed in Italy. The Austrian presidency stressed the need for the causes of potential refugee flows from Kosovo to be assessed and urged the setting up of a common system for dealing with asylum-seekers already in EU member states. Vienna also said it was important for the Union to come up with a common political assessment of the situation in Kosovo.

THE Council reached political agreement on a joint action on money laundering. The new accord is designed to ensure that member states coordinate their efforts to identify, trace, freeze and seize funds obtained through criminal activity. It builds on a 1990 agreement on money laundering drawn up by the non-EU Council of Europe. The deal is set to be formally adopted after it has been cleared by EU legal and linguistic experts.

MINISTERS discussed problems holding up agreement on a convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters. The biggest obstacle remaining to be overcome is the question of how law enforcement agencies should be allowed to tap mobile telephones and satellite-based communications systems. Some delegations insisted on the importance of drawing up fairly general rules on the subject as technology in this field is developing so quickly.