§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on Eurojust; and if he will make a statement. [139740]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe decision to establish Eurojust was taken at the special European Council meeting held at Tampere, Finland in October 1999. The European Council agreed that Eurojust would have
the task of facilitating the proper co-ordination of national prosecuting authorities and of supporting criminal investigations in organised crime cases, notably based on Europol's analysis, as 211W well as of co-operating closely with the European Judicial Network, in particular in order to simplify the execution of letters rogatory.The Justice and Home Affairs Council was requested to adopt the necessary legal instrument by the end of 2001.
The Government fully support the decision to establish Eurojust and are actively participating in the current work to negotiate the necessary legal instrument. In discharging the remit from Tampere, the Government believe that Eurojust should co-ordinate and facilitate cross-border investigations, but without directing the national authorities involved.
In addition to dealing with other types of serious crime, the Government consider that Eurojust should take an active part in the investigation and prosecution of cases of fraud against the finances of the European Union. Eurojust will also need to establish close links with Europol to enable the two organisations to co-operate fully in the European Union's fight against organised crime.
The Government have fully supported the decision to establish a Provisional Judicial Co-operation Unit in Brussels in the interim period before Eurojust is established. A similar method was used successfully when Europol was established, and experience gained from the operation of the Provisional Unit will feed into the negotiations on Eurojust itself.