European Parliament adopts resolution on Stockholm Programme

There were a lot of amendments, separate votes and split votes, so we have to wait a few days for the final consolidated text. What is important though is that one amendment made it to the final text, which deals with the infamous ‘balancing’ metaphor:
The European Parliament
“… stresses that the EU is rooted in the [...]

13 EU Countries launch coordinating body for national counterterrorism centres

13 National Terrorism Centres gathered in Paris last week to discuss further cooperation, Le Monde reports. At the meeting countries which have such a body, including Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, decide to launch a common structure: the Coordinating Committee of Counterrorism Centres. This network will monitor developments of the terroris threat. [...]

Four EU countries oppose SWIFT bank data deal with US ahead of Lisbon Treaty

Opposition from four member states to a draft agreement between the EU and US allowing the use of banking data in anti-terrorist investigations is likely to delay a decision until after 1 December, drawing the European Parliament into the decision making process. Citing data privacy concerns, Germany, Austria, France and Finland are opposing the text [...]

EU Parliament report on use of information technology for customs purposes

Read it here.Related: Frontex presentation.

Opinion of the EDPS on the access of law enforcement authorities to EURODAC

Read the opinion here.

G6 to discuss ways to combat terrorism

Interior ministers of the EU’s six biggest states will meet the US’s top security official next week (5 November) and will discuss how to boost public support for counter-terrorism polices. The meeting in London of the so-called G6 will also discuss organised crime and the exchange of data.
Past meetings of the G6 have attracted criticism [...]

FRA Opinion on the Presidency Draft of the upcoming Stockholm Programme

Read it here.

EU-US Joint Statement on “Enhancing transatlantic cooperation in the area of Justice, Freedom and Security”

Read it here.Excerpt:
We recognize that the fight against terrorism requires coherent and coordinated action. We recall our joint statement on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and to future more expansive counter-terrorism cooperation. The prevention of violent radicalisation and recruitment is critical to enhancing citizens’ safety from the threat of terrorism. The misuse [...]

Interesting articles

Beth van Schaack – International Criminal Law & its Enforcement
This chapter, to appear in the 2nd edition of Beth Van Schaack & Ron Slye’s International Criminal Law & Its Enforcement (Foundation Press 2010), covers the crime of torture under international criminal law. It begins with a doctrinal discussion of the elements of torture as elucidated [...]

EU-US to sign new extradition treaty

The EU and the US will next week (28 October) sign a treaty intended to simplify and accelerate the extradition of those suspected of serious crimes, the European Voice reports. The treaty, which will come into force next year, broadens the definition of serious crime to overcome problems with old bilateral treaties, which, for example, [...]