Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 3

Written Answers. - Organised Crime.

Austin Deasy

Question:

65 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the degree of organised crime in some of the applicant countries for European Union membership; if he has made his views known to the countries in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16778/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

In common with my colleagues from other EU member states, I am concerned with the threat posed by organised crime groups from Central and Eastern Europe. The transition from centrally planned, command economies to the free market system has exacerbated and made more apparent the conditions for the development and operation of organised crime in the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Measures are being taken both at EU and bilateral levels to strengthen the capacity of the applicant countries to prevent and combat organised crime.

A pre-accession pact on organised crime between the member states of the European Union and the applicant countries was adopted on 28 May 1998. Under this pact, a pre-accession pact expert group meets on an ongoing basis to progress the pact and to discuss matters of common interest in relation to combating organised crime. A specific chapter of the European Union strategy for the prevention and control of organised crime for the beginning of the new millennium relates to strengthening co-operation with the applicant countries. This chapter emphasises that a truly effective EU strategy must look beyond the member states of the EU and includes five primary recommendations in relation to organised crime.

In addition, a collective evaluation working party has been established and has been assessing the progress being made by the applicant countries towards adopting the EU acquis in the justice and home affairs sphere. Funding is available under the EU's PHARE programme to assist them in adopting the European Union acquis, including the justice and home affairs elements.

At a bilateral level, Ireland has signed a co-operation agreement with the Republic of Hungary on drugs and other serious crime and negotiations on a similar agreement with the Republic of Poland have been completed at official level. Requests to enter into similar co-operation agreements have been received from a number of the other applicant countries and these are currently being examined within my Department.

I believe that these ongoing developments provide the most appropriate means for dealing with this issue.