PURPOSE: to authorise the European Police Office
(Europol) to conclude the Agreement on Strategic Cooperation
between Brazil and Europol.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Implementing
Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts
the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being
obliged to follow its opinion.
BACKGROUND : pursuant to Decision
2009/371/JHA establishing the European Police Office (Europol)
and Decision
2009/934/JHA adopting the implementing rules governing
Europol's relations with partners, Europol is to conclude
agreements with the third States which have been put on the list
determined by Decision
2009/935/JHA.
Such agreements have the objective of supporting and
strengthening action by the competent authorities of the Member
States and their mutual cooperation in preventing and combating
organised crime, terrorism and other forms of serious crime
affecting two or more Member States, and may concern the exchange
of operational, strategic or technical information, including
personal data and classified information.
Brazil is included in
the list determined by Decision 2009/935/JHA.
In order to increase effectiveness in preventing and
combating serious forms of crime, Europol has initiated the
procedure for the conclusion of an Agreement on Strategic
Cooperation between Brazil and Europol (Strategic
Agreement).
Strategic Agreements involve the exchange of information excluding personal
data. Europol may conclude them only after approval by the Council,
the latter having previously consulted the Management Board of
Europol. The Management Board approved the Strategic Agreement
on 6-7 October 2015.
The conditions for triggering the exercise of
implementing powers by the Council pursuant to Decisions
2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA and 2009/935/JHA have been
met
CONTENT: by the draft implementing Decision, Europol
is authorised to conclude the Agreement on Strategic Cooperation
between Brazil and Europol.
The terms of the cooperation governed by the Strategic
Agreement provide for the exchange of information, which may
include specialist knowledge, general situation reports, results of
strategic analysis, information on criminal investigation
procedures and information on crime-prevention methods,
participation in training activities, and the provision of advice
and support in individual criminal investigations.
The Strategic Agreement contains no provision
relating to the exchange of personal data.
Denmark, the United Kingdom
and Ireland are taking part in the adoption and application of the
Decision.