PURPOSE: to amend the rules applicable to Europol analysis files.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2007/673/EC amending the Council Act adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a Decision amending the Council Act of 3 November 1998 adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files. These rules should be amended following amendments to the provisions of the Europol Convention in terms of the opening of an analysis file and the collection, processing, utilisation and deletion of personal data contained therein.

These rules are amended as follows:

after receipt of ‘raw’ data, it shall be determined as soon as possible to what extent the data shall be included in an analysis file; the issue of whether an analysis file must be retained for a certain period of time is defined by the participants in the analysis. On the basis of this review, a decision shall be taken by the Director on the continuation or closure of the file. The Director shall inform the Management Board of his decision; personal data may not be retained for a period longer than that mentioned in Article 12(4) of the Europol Convention. Where, as a consequence of the continuation of the analysis file, data concerning persons are stored in a file for a period exceeding five years, the Joint Supervisory Body shall be informed accordingly; analysis activities and the dissemination of analysis results may begin immediately after the analysis file has been opened; should the Management Board instruct the Director of Europol to amend an opening order or close the file, data which may not be included or used in the file shall be deleted immediately; the retrieval of data by participants of the analysis project shall only be granted after they have been accredited by Europol.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21 October 2007.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Agustín DIAZ DE MERA GARCIA CONSUEGRA (EPP-ED, ES) on the initiative by the Republic of Finland for adoption of a Council decision amending the Council Act of 3 November 1998 adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files.

The report contained two amendments:

the Management Board shall only authorize the transmission of the analysis results once the Joint Supervisory Body has communicated its comments concerning the opening of such a file; the mechanisms of control will be kept in accordance with Article 15 (4) and (5) of Council Act of 3 November 1998 adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files (1999/C 26/1). The Commission had wanted these clauses deleted.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted by a large majority the report drawn up by Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra (EPP-ED, Spain) on the initiative by the Republic of Finland for adoption of a Council decision amending the Council Act of 3 November 1998 adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files. The report contained two amendments:

- the Management Board shall only authorize the transmission of the analysis results once the Joint Supervisory Body has communicated its comments concerning the opening of such a file;

- the mechanisms of control will be kept in accordance with Article 15 (4) and (5) of Council Act of 3 November 1998 adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files (1999/C 26/1).

PURPOSE: to amend the Council Act adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: based on a Finnish initiative, the proposed Council Decision aims to amend the Council Act adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files.

The Europol Convention makes provision for work files for the purposes of analysis. Changes were introduced by the Protocol of the Convention on the Establishment of a European Police Office (Europol Convention), amending that Convention. In particular, amendments were made to certain Articles which constitute the framework for the opening of an analysis file and the collection, processing, utilisation and deletion of personal data contained therein.

Implementing rules were adopted for work files. These rules require to be amended as a consequence of the changes made by the said Protocol to the Europol Convention; the Act should therefore be amended accordingly.

The proposed Decision makes the following amendments:

- after receipt of analysis files, it shall be determined as soon as possible to what extent the data shall be included in a specific file. The review of the need for the continuation of an analysis work file shall be carried out by the participants in the analysis. On the basis of this review, a decision shall be taken by the Director on the continuation or closure of the file. The Director shall inform the Management Board of his decision;

- personal data may not be retained for a period longer than that mentioned in the Europol Convention. Where, as a consequence of the continuation of the analysis file, data concerning persons are stored in a file for a period exceeding 5 years, the Joint Supervisory Body shall be informed accordingly;

- analysis activities and the dissemination of analysis results may begin immediately after the analysis file has been opened. Should the Management Board instruct the Director of Europol to amend an opening order or close the file, data which may not be included in the file or, if the file is to be closed, all data contained in that file, shall be deleted immediately;

- the retrieval of data by participants of the analysis project shall only be granted after they have been accredited by Europol and following a training on their specific obligations under the Europol legal framework.

PURPOSE: to amend the Council Act adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: based on a Finnish initiative, the proposed Council Decision aims to amend the Council Act adopting rules applicable to Europol analysis files.

The Europol Convention makes provision for work files for the purposes of analysis. Changes were introduced by the Protocol of the Convention on the Establishment of a European Police Office (Europol Convention), amending that Convention. In particular, amendments were made to certain Articles which constitute the framework for the opening of an analysis file and the collection, processing, utilisation and deletion of personal data contained therein.

Implementing rules were adopted for work files. These rules require to be amended as a consequence of the changes made by the said Protocol to the Europol Convention; the Act should therefore be amended accordingly.

The proposed Decision makes the following amendments:

- after receipt of analysis files, it shall be determined as soon as possible to what extent the data shall be included in a specific file. The review of the need for the continuation of an analysis work file shall be carried out by the participants in the analysis. On the basis of this review, a decision shall be taken by the Director on the continuation or closure of the file. The Director shall inform the Management Board of his decision;

- personal data may not be retained for a period longer than that mentioned in the Europol Convention. Where, as a consequence of the continuation of the analysis file, data concerning persons are stored in a file for a period exceeding 5 years, the Joint Supervisory Body shall be informed accordingly;

- analysis activities and the dissemination of analysis results may begin immediately after the analysis file has been opened. Should the Management Board instruct the Director of Europol to amend an opening order or close the file, data which may not be included in the file or, if the file is to be closed, all data contained in that file, shall be deleted immediately;

- the retrieval of data by participants of the analysis project shall only be granted after they have been accredited by Europol and following a training on their specific obligations under the Europol legal framework.