EU/Iceland/Norway agreement: cross-border cooperation in combatting terrorism and cross-border crime

PURPOSE: to the conclude the Agreement between the EU and Iceland and Norway on the application of certain provisions of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime and Council Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA and the Annex thereto.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: this proposal aims to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Agreement on the application of certain provisions of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime and Council Decision 2008/616/JHA on the implementation of Decision 2008/615/JHA on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime, and the Annex thereto.

The Agreement was signed on 30 November but it has not yet been formally concluded. For details of the content of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the document annexed to the procedure of 26/01/2009.

With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the procedures to be followed by the Union in order to conclude the Agreement are governed by Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) which states that the Council shall adopt a decision concluding the agreement, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

Territorial application: in accordance with the Protocol on the Position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, these Member States have notified their wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Decision. Denmark will not be bound by the Agreement.