§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what documents have been published relating to the activities, financing and powers of Europol; what agreements need to be made prior to the commencement of operations of mixed national police teams, under its supervision within national states; and if he will state the name of the replacement committee concerning all matters of police and judicial co-operation in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, the frequency of planned meetings and the nature and number of the representatives of the European Commission on that committee. [86226]
§ Kate HoeyEuropol produces an annual report that outlines the activities undertaken during the reporting period and includes a section on finance. A copy of the report for 1998 will be placed in both Libraries of the House shortly. A copy will also be sent to the European Parliament. The powers of Europol are outlined in the Europol Convention.
The principal role of Europol will be to support competent authorities of member states in their action against crime. Any decision to set up "mixed national police teams" would be for the member state principally concerned.
The senior level official committee concerned with Justice and Home Affairs issues has no formal title, but is known informally as the "Article 36 Committee". The Presidency of the day will decide how frequently it should meet. It has met once since the Treaty of Amsterdam came into effect and eight meetings are currently planned under the Finnish Presidency. The European Commission is represented at official level on the Committee; the nature and number of their representatives are matters for the Commission.