Tampere European Council 1999: Conclusions (Hansard, 7 February 2005)

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Listed below are the treaty articles related to the European Union Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), the European Police College (CEPOL), the European Railway Agency (ERA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

1. European Union Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC)

(a) The legal base for Regulation 1035/97 establishing the EUMC is Articles 284 and 308 TEC (formerly Articles 213 and 235).
(b) The EUMC operates under Council Regulation (EC) 1035/97 of 2 June 1997.
(c) Article 2 of the above regulation sets out its tasks and objectives: to provide the Community and its member states with objective, reliable and comparable data at European level on the phenomena of racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism.
(d) Article 3 of the above regulation sets out its powers: data collection and analysis, scientific research, surveys and studies to be conducted or encouraged concerning the extent, development, causes and effects of the phenomena of racism and xenophobia.
(e) The arrangements for financing the EUMC are set out in Article 12 (4) of the above regulation:

a subsidy from the Community, entered under a specific heading in the general budget of the European Communities (Commission section);

payments received for services rendered;

any financial contributions from organisations such as international, governmental; or

non-governmental organisations, including the Council of Europe.

(f) According to the most recent annual report the EUMC (at December 2003) had 30 members of staff.

(g) The EUMC is located in Vienna.

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2. CEPOL

(a) The European Police College (CEPOL) was established by Council Decision (2000/820/JHA) on 22 December 2000. This decision has regard to Articles 30(1)(c) and 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union.
(b) According to Article 1 of the above council decision (2000/820/JHA) CEPOL is set up as a network by bringing together the national training institutes for senior police officers in member states. It is managed by a governing board made up of the member states. The governing board is responsible to the Council of Ministers for approving CEPOL's budget and annual work programme.
(c) Article 6 of the above council decision sets out CEPOL's main objectives and tasks: to increase knowledge of the national police systems and structures across the EU, of Europol and of cross-border police co-operation within the EU; and to provide appropriate training with regard to respect for democratic safeguards.
(d) CEPOL is a network of police training colleges and as such has no formal powers. However, Article 7 of the above council decision stipulates that CEPOL may provide training sessions for senior police officers, provide specialist training, develop training for trainers, disseminate best practice; and develop and provide training to prepare police forces of the EU for participation in non-military crisis management.
(e) The financial arrangements for CEPOL are outlined in Article 5 of the above council decision. CEPOL is currently funded by contributions made by member states rather than through the budget of the European Communities;
(f) Staff in the secretariat to CEPOL are seconded from national administrations and are not employed directly by CEPOL.
(g) On 13 December 2003, the European Council decided that CEPOL should locate its permanent secretariat in Bramshill, UK.

3. European Railways Agency (ERA)

(a) The legal base for Regulation 881/2004 establishing the European Railway Agency (ERA) is Article 71(1) TEC.
(b) The agency was effectively only established in May 2004 and operates under Council Regulation (EC) 881/2004 of 29 April 2004 referring also to Directive 2004/49/EC (Safety directive) and Directive 2004/50/EC (Interoperability); it has yet to start work.
(c) The principal role of the European Railway Agency established under council regulation 881/2004 is to provide the Commission and member states with technical assistance in the fields of railway safety and interoperability.
(d) The agency is established as an advisory, body for the European Commission with no autonomous executive powers, and therefore has no regulatory or statutory role in the UK.
(e) The financial arrangements for the ERA are governed by provisions in the financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the EC (Council Regulation (EC, EURATOM) 1605/ 2002) which was made under Article 279 of the treaty. It is funded from the general budget of the EU.
(f) The ERA has an administrative board, which appoints a chairman from among its members, and an executive director. It employs around 100 staff in total.
(g) The European Rail Agency is located in Valenciennes, northern France.

4. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

(a) The legal base for Regulation 1592/2002 establishing the EASA is Article 80(2) TEC.
(b) The EASA operates under council regulation (EC) 1592/2002 of 15 July 2002.
(c) Article 2 of the above regulation sets out the agency's primary objective: to assist the Commission in establishing and maintaining a high, uniform level of civil aviation safety in Europe.
(d) Articles 12 to 18 of the above regulation set out its various functions: principally to help the Commission draw up rules and regulations and to carry out various executive functions with respect to the issue of certificates and approvals for aircraft, products and parts and design, production and maintenance organisations.
(e) According to Articles 48 to 53 of the regulation, the agency will be financed by a contribution from the Community, by fees paid by applicants for, and holders of, certificates and approvals, and charges for services such as publications and training.
(f) At the end of 2004 the agency employed 95 staff.
(g) The headquarters of the agency are located in Cologne.