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A Federal European Police System to tackle Terrorism and Crime (submitted by JEF Bulgaria, JEF France, JEF Greece, JEF Macedonia, JEF Moldova, JEF Switzerland and JEF UK, JEF Slovenia)

The Congress of JEF Europe,

Expresses deep concern over the rising number of terrorist threats and attacks in the EU since the events of 9/11;

Condemns the terrorist attacks of Glasgow, Istanbul, London and Madrid  and all other global attacks initiated by religious and political extremism. Acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable;

Is deeply concerned that various religious and political extremist groups continue to exist in different EU Member States;

Acknowledges that Europe is a multi faith continent and that mutual respect and dialogue between faiths is fundamental in achieving long-term peace;

Recalls that Europe has suffered from internal terrorism for decades from groups such as ETA and IRA, and that terrorism should be perceived as an internal as well as an external phenomenon;

Emphasises that European society revolves around the principles of democracy, freedom, the rule of law and human rights and rejects all acts of oppression, violence, fundamentalism and terror;

Believes that individual and human security is a fundamental right and that each and every citizen in entitled to feel safe;

Appreciates that some progress has been made since 2003 in developing a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP);

Welcomes the 2005 EU Counter Terrorism Strategy;

Expresses satisfaction that the European Constitution provisions on Justice and Home

Affairs have been largely retained in the Reform Treaty, though deeply regrets the opt outs of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom;

Accepts that a balance must be addressed between increased state and supranational security measures and civil liberties;

Nevertheless encourages Member States to surrender further national sovereignty

in the area of Justice and Home Affairs to the European level in light of increased terrorist threats;

Seriously doubts that Member States are individually capable of ensuring security and combating terrorism and thus must act in unison through the creation of one Security Policy and a true Federal European police;

Is aware that European citizens want an EU that is efficient and able to respond to their needs – not a bureaucratic and impotent talking shop;

Observes that a European Federation would require the existence of a Federal European Police System.

The Congress of JEF Europe therefore:

Calls for the advancement of a Federal European Police System whose structure may be organised in the following manner:

•    A Federal European Police to deal with all forms of trans-European terrorism and crime;

•    European State Police Divisions to operate and be co-coordinated at State and/or regional level to deal with routine law and order duties in accordance with their respective criminal justice systems;

•    A Federal Criminal Police Office building on the powers and functions of Europol to deal with severe cases of terrorism in co-operation with the Federal Police and State police forces;

The Federal Criminal Police Office will become involved only in cases when requested by the State authorities or when involving two or more States. The Federal authority may also direct it to investigate cases of special public interest. Additional powers may include but are not limited to: dealing with cases of extremism, economic and financial crime and criminal intelligence;

Urges the Federal Criminal Police Office to deal seriously and strictly with anti terrorism measures, working specifically in the fields of prevention, protection and provision while ensuring that the civil liberties of citizens are fully

respected;

It should work to:

•    Prevent people from turning to terrorism by tackling the root causes which lead to radicalisation and recruitment such as preventing terrorist propaganda in the media, youth vulnerability and integration failure;

•    Protect citizens and infrastructure and reduce the chances of attack, such as increasing research projects on countering chemical and biological threats;

 

•    Investigate terrorist suspects in Europe and beyond to impede their planning, travel and communications, to disrupt their networks and cut all sources of funding and access to attack materials;

•    Ensure an efficient flow and exchange of information between legal authorities and intelligence organisations across the continent while respecting the fundamental right to data protection;

•    Respond to an eventual attack in Europe by providing an efficient co-coordinated response taking into account the needs of victims;

 

Emphasises the need for the above organisations to be democratic and accountable;

Is fully aware that increased security alone will not combat or prevent terrorism and stresses the importance of developing social and community inclusion amongst peoples of all cultures and backgrounds;

Nevertheless fears that in the absence of a true Federal Police System, European citizens will remain more vulnerable to all forms of attacks and trans-European crime;

Thus resolves to campaign in favour of the gradual advancement of a Federal European Police System and the immediate agreement amongst Heads of Governments to commence this process by surrendering further powers in the field of Justice and Home Affairs to the European level.