PURPOSE: to make changes to the use of liaison officers poster abroad by the law enforcement agencies of the Member States.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2006/560/JHA amending Decision 2003/170/JHA on the common use of liaison officers posted abroad by the law enforcement agencies of the Member States.
CONTENT: currently, provisions on the posting of liaison officers abroad is set out in Decision 2003/170/JHA on the common use of liaison officers posted abroad by the law enforcement agencies of the Member States. For a summary of this Decision see CNS/2002/0815. On the initiative of the British is has been decided to modify certain aspects of the Decision and to bring it into line with current practice. At the same time, the Decision amends certain provisions on liaison officers meetings so that a “lead nation” is given responsibility for co-ordinating and initiating EU co-operation in a particular country or region.
In addition, the Decision states that Member States must ensure that all information will be exchanged in accordance with the Europol Convention. Further, and in accordance with national law and the Europol Convention, the Member States may make a request to use Europol liaison officers seconded to third countries or international organisations, for the purpose of exchanging relevant information. Such requests will be addressed to Europol via the Member States’ national units. Europol will ensure that its liaison officers, seconded to third countries and international organisations, will provide all information to it, relating to serious threats of criminal offences to the Member States. Such information will be communicated via the national units in accordance with the Europol Convention.
The General Secretariat will draw up an annual summary on the postings of liaison officers. This report will include information on their duties and any cooperative agreements between the Member States on the postings of their liaison officers. It will also list the Member States who have been tasked with co-ordinating EU co-operation. Details of Europol liaison officers posted to third countries or international organisation will also be included.
This Decision will apply to Gibraltar.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25 August 2006.