PURPOSE: to amend Decision 2002/348/JHA concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2007/412/JHA amending Decision 2002/348/JHA concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension.

CONTENT: on 25 April 2002, the Council adopted Decision 2002/348/JHA (refer to CNS/2001/0824 ) which established national football information points in each Member State as the designated point for sharing police information in respect of football matches with international dimension. That Decision set out the tasks and procedures to be adopted by each national football information point.

In the light of experience in recent years, such as the European Championships in 2004 and the experts' assessment of international police cooperation in the framework of that championship and extensive police cooperation in respect of international and club matches in Europe generally, the Decision should be revised and updated.

In recent years, the number of supporters travelling to matches abroad continues to grow. Therefore, it is necessary for the competent bodies to strengthen their cooperation and to professionalize the exchange of information in order to prevent public order disturbances and to allow every Member State to make an efficient risk assessment. The proposed amendments are the results of gathered experiences from several national football information points in their daily work and should enable them to work in a more structured and professional way, ensuring the exchange of high quality information.

This Decision enables national football information points to have access to information involving personal data on risk supporters. The information points shall produce and circulate, for the benefit of other national football information points regular, generic and/or thematic national football disorder assessments.

It is also provided that information be exchanged using the appropriate forms contained in the appendix to the 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. National football information points shall ensure that the information they send is complete and in conformity with those forms.

The Council shall evaluate the implementation of this Decision by 12 June 2010.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16 June 2007.

The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Giusto CATANIA (GUE/NGL, IT) and approved the proposal on security in connection with football matches with an international dimension, subject to two amendments. (For details, please refer to the summary of 28/02/2007.)

The committee adopted the report by Giusto CATANIA (GUE/NGL, IT) approving the proposed Council decision on security in connection with football matches with an international dimension. It adopted two amendments under the consultation procedure:

- personal data collected by national football information points on high-risk supporters should be handled exclusively in connection with football matches and should not be used for any other activities;

- personal data should be exchanged in accordance with the domestic and international laws applicable, taking account of the principles laid down in the Council of Europe's 1981 Convention on the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data and - as appropriate - its 1987 Recommendation regulating the use of personal data in the police sector. Such exchanges would be for the purpose of "preparing and taking the appropriate measures to maintain law and order when a football event takes place", and could involve details of individuals "actually or potentially posing a threat to law and order and security".

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.

PURPOSE : to amend Decision 2002/348/JHA concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTEXT : on 25 April 2002, the Council adopted Decision 2002/348/JHA (refer to CNS/2001/0824 ) which established national football information points in each Member State as the designated point for sharing police information in respect of football matches with international dimension. That Decision set out the tasks and procedures to be adopted by each national football information point.

In the light of experience in recent years, such as the European Championships in 2004 and the experts' assessment of international police cooperation in the framework of that championship and extensive police cooperation in respect of international and club matches in Europe generally, the Decision should be revised and updated.

In recent years, the number of supporters travelling to matches abroad continues to grow. Therefore, it is necessary for the competent bodies to strengthen their cooperation and to professionalize the exchange of information in order to prevent public order disturbances and to allow every Member State to make an efficient risk assessment. The proposed amendments are the results of gathered experiences from several national football information points in their daily work and should enable them to work in a more structured and professional way, ensuring the exchange of high quality information.

CONTENT: the proposal enables national football information points to have access to information involving personal data on risk supporters. The information points shall produce and circulate, for the benefit of other national football information points regular, generic and /or thematic national football disorder assessments.

It is also provided that information be exchanged using the appropriate forms contained in the appendix to the 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. National football information points shall ensure that the information they send is complete and in conformity with those forms.

PURPOSE : to amend Decision 2002/348/JHA concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTEXT : on 25 April 2002, the Council adopted Decision 2002/348/JHA (refer to CNS/2001/0824 ) which established national football information points in each Member State as the designated point for sharing police information in respect of football matches with international dimension. That Decision set out the tasks and procedures to be adopted by each national football information point.

In the light of experience in recent years, such as the European Championships in 2004 and the experts' assessment of international police cooperation in the framework of that championship and extensive police cooperation in respect of international and club matches in Europe generally, the Decision should be revised and updated.

In recent years, the number of supporters travelling to matches abroad continues to grow. Therefore, it is necessary for the competent bodies to strengthen their cooperation and to professionalize the exchange of information in order to prevent public order disturbances and to allow every Member State to make an efficient risk assessment. The proposed amendments are the results of gathered experiences from several national football information points in their daily work and should enable them to work in a more structured and professional way, ensuring the exchange of high quality information.

CONTENT: the proposal enables national football information points to have access to information involving personal data on risk supporters. The information points shall produce and circulate, for the benefit of other national football information points regular, generic and /or thematic national football disorder assessments.

It is also provided that information be exchanged using the appropriate forms contained in the appendix to the 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. National football information points shall ensure that the information they send is complete and in conformity with those forms.