End veto on cross-border crime fighting

10.45.50am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jun 2006

Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP is calling on Europe's governments to agree to sharper and more effective decision-making for EU law enforcement measures against terrorism, organised crime, trafficking and child pornography. She said:

"European leaders must stop letting down their voters, who overwhelmingly support EU action to combat terrorism and crime. By insisting on a veto for each of the 25 countries, the governments deliver gridlock instead."

"Even when European ministers do agree on a measure, it can take several years and be watered down so much it becomes useless. We need quick but democratic decisions on cross-border police cooperation to ensure we are one step ahead of the bad guys instead of limping behind."

Examples of measures blocked because of the veto rule include: a common EU framework to tackle race hate crimes; strengthened fair trial and defence rights (to accompany the European Arrest Warrant); easier exchange of police information on suspects, and data protection rules to prevent abuse.

Note

The European Commission will propose tomorrow Wednesday that some justice cooperation areas should be shifted from 'veto' procedures to the normal EU framework of qualified majority voting and partnership with MEPs. National parliaments would have to agree to this change. EU governments including the UK already signed up, in the stalled EU constitution, to removing the veto altogether on justice and policing measures.