The main item dealt with at the Trevi meeting in Copenhagen on 2 June, 1993 was the signature by the twelve Trevi Ministers of an Agreement to enable the first phase of EUROPOL, the Europol Drugs Unit to be established. Copies of the Agreement were laid before the Dáil on 9 June 1993. In addition, a note which outlined the main provisions of the Agreement was circulated to Deputies.
A motion approving the terms of this Agreement was passed by this House yesterday following a comprehensive debate in this House.
Other matters discussed at the meeting related to problems in member states arising from terrorism, attacks of violence directed against foreigners, environmental crime, money laundering activities, and the involvement of motor cycle gangs in cross-border criminal activity.
During the debate yesterday in this House I gave a resume of the background and development of the Trevi Group. This Group was set up in 1975, when the European Council decided that Community Ministers of the Interior and Ministers for Justice, should meet to discuss matters arising in the area of their responsibilities — in particular matters relating to law and order. The first such meeting took place on 29 June 1976 and Irish Ministers for Justice have participated in the work of TREVI from the start.
The TREVI Group has operated outside the formal EC structures up to now, because the basic Acts and Legislation governing the EC do not extend to matters of policing. There is, however, provision under the Treaty of European Union for co-operation in police matters. The future role of the TREVI Group and its relationship with European Community working structures is one of the matters which falls to be considered in the context of implementation of the Maastricht Treaty.
I made it clear in the debate yesterday that the Europol Drugs Unit will have a non-operational role only, and will not have powers to cross national borders in pursuit of criminals.
