The Council adopted a resolution on the prevention and control of violence at football matches.
On 21 June 1999, the Council adopted a resolution concerning a handbook for international police cooperation and measures to prevent and control violence disturbances in connection with international football matches. This resolution was replaced by the Council resolution of 6 December 2001 concerning a handbook with recommendations for international police cooperation and measures to prevent and control violence and disturbances in connection with football matches with an international dimension, in which at least one Member State is involved.
The current resolution requests Member States to continue to step up police cooperation in respect of football matches with an international dimension and that amendments to the handbook be proposed in the light of recent experience. To this end, the handbook has been revised and updated. It provides examples of strongly recommended working methods that should be made available to police forces.
The changes included in the annexed updated handbook are without prejudice to existing national provisions, in particular the divisions and responsibilities among the different authorities and services in the Member States concerned, and to the exercise by the Commission of its powers under the Treaty establishing the European Community.