[statewatch.org] Further
to the call of Minister Alliot-Marie, President of the JHA Council,
made at the
Informal
Meeting of the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the European
Union in
Cannes
on 7 and 8 July 2008, to present on EU level successful models of
regional cooperation
in
the police field, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary,
Poland, Romania,
Slovakia
and Slovenia present the Salzburg Forum initiative functioning among
them as a
form
of regional cooperation which may serve as a role model for the other
EU Member
States.
1.
The Salzburg Forum which was founded in 2001 constitutes a platform
for regional
cooperation
in the field of internal security between Austria, Bulgaria, the
Czech Republic,
Hungary,
Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Croatia takes part in the
Salzburg Forum
as
an observer.
2.
The Salzburg Forum performs its activities in three basic areas, as
follows: coordination and
representation
of the interests of the participating countries in the European
institutions;
development
and strengthening of police cooperation and deepening relations with
third
countries
– the so-called "external dimension of Salzburg Forum".
3.
The Salzburg Forum is a security partnership which was created in
order to contribute
to the
establishment
of a common European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice and to
guarantee
a high security standard.
To achieve this goal, the partners work closely together,
particularly
in the fields of police cooperation, border control and fight against
illegal
migration.
4.
The Salzburg Forum countries have signed far-reaching agreements on
police cooperation
among
each other which form the legal framework for a close operational
cooperation. These
agreements
provide for example for the setting-up of common police cooperation
centres and
joint
patrols in the border regions.
5.
The Salzburg Forum became an important regional initiative of
cooperation on political and
expert
level for discussion exchange of ideas and information, as well as
consultation and
definition
of aims and positions in the field of regional security. Several
working groups have
been
established in order to promote strategic and operational cooperation
in the home affairs
area:
–
Traffic Police;
–
Major Events;
–
Witness Protection;
–
DNA Data Exchange.
6.
Furthermore, the Salzburg Forum is constantly exploring new fields of
co-operation,
following
the latest developments on EU level. Right now, among other topics,
exchanges of
views
on juvenile crime, the future of integrated border management,
cross-border
enforcement
of road traffic fines, implementation of the Prüm provisions and
striking the right
balance
between security and fundamental rights are on the agenda. Ministers
have recently
discussed
the topic of a possible regional co-operation in civilian crisis
management missions
for
the first time.
7.
The Schengen Enlargement in 2007 turned five of the eight countries
of the Salzburg Forum
into
full Schengen Member States which lead to further dynamics in the
police cooperation
within
the Salzburg Forum. Respective measures on sharing expertise with the
other two SF
countries
(Bulgaria and Romania) have been taken in order to support them in
the process of
their
accession to the Schengen area envisaged for 2011.
8.
Taking into account that EU citizens are equally entitled to the
rights of both security and the
right
of free movement, Ministers have agreed during their meeting in July
2007 in Innsbruck
upon
further development of the existing police cooperation towards the
establishment of a
Central
European Operational Network (CEON).
The activities within the Central European
Operational
Network aim at further strengthening and linking the already existing
pillars of
such
a regional cooperation. In legal terms, this process is based on the
existing bilateral and
multilateral
agreements as well as on the EU Acquis.
9.
In order to implement the Central
European Operational Network the
following measures
will
be taken or enhanced on the bilateral or regional level:
–
Amendment of existing bilateral agreements;
–
Comprehensive and coordinated security concepts for the border
regions;
–
Regular meetings of high-ranking representatives of the Ministries;
–
Mixed patrols in the border regions;
–
Common Police Cooperation Centres;
–
Establishment of a network of Common Centres;
–
Joint risk assessments;
–
Exchange of liaison officers;
–
Concerted action plans;
–
Cross-border hot pursuit;
–
Special forms of cooperation (e.g. cross-border surveillance,
controlled delivery,
undercover
investigations, joint investigation teams);
–
Exchange of information;
–
Support in case of major incidents (major events, disasters, severe
accidents);
–
Cooperation in the field of road safety;
–
Cooperation regarding basic and advanced training;
–
Joint exercises.
10.
The establishment of Common Centres has proved as one of the corner
stones of operational
police
cooperation. Following the example of the German-French centre in
Kehl, all Forum
Salzburg
countries have set up bi-und multilateral centres among each other,
with other EU
Member
States and third countries. Although the costs for the setting-up and
running of
Common
Centres are relatively high, there is a clear return on invest. The
Centres are
platforms
for daily operational police cooperation characterised by a permanent
information
exchange,
the overcoming of language barriers and the fostering of a common
understanding
on
policing by the involved law enforcement officers. Common Centres
contribute to a high
degree
to the setting up of the European area of freedom, security and
justice beyond their
direct
regional impact.
11.
Therefore the Forum Salzburg countries are in favour to launch a
debate on the adoption of an
EU
legal Instrument for the establishment of and the cooperation between
common centres of
the
Member States.
12.
Police cooperation within the Salzburg Forum is a proved example of a
successful regional
partnership
on the home affairs area within the framework of the European Union
and
contributes
considerably to the security of the Forum Salzburg countries and
Europe as a
whole.
13.
The Salzburg Forum countries are ready to provide the other EU Member
States with the
experience
they have gained through this cooperation.
Source: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2008/oct/eu-jha-salzburg-forum-14304-08.pdf
