Crime, whether on a large or small scale, affects people of all ages and nationalities. It constitutes an activity that most seek to avoid, prevent, and stop at any cost.
The European institutions have recognised the necessity to have a unified approach to fighting crime and protecting those affected by it. Certainly, most issues must remain the competence of member states, and are most effectively dealt with at that level. However, a common EU approach is certainly warranted in the case of a number of issues and most especially when criminal activities take on a cross border dimension. Multiple steps have been taken in the past decade to make citizens safer and to protect those who have been victimised. Certainly, ending all crime is impossible but the strides that the European institutions are making toward minimising it are nevertheless most noteworthy.
In December 2011, the Parliament endorsed the European Protection Order (EPO) for crime victims. Not only was the EPO endorsed by Parliament, but it also received wide support from member states, showing the unified feeling toward crime prevention in the EU. This order serves to protect crime victims across all EU borders, irrespective of where the crime took place or which member state granted the victim protection from their aggressor. The European Protection Order will assist victims in their movement across borders while assuring them that their aggressors are not close behind. An EPO can be issued if and only if the aggressor is forbidden to be in places where the protected person visits on a regular basis. The EPO is a good example of where the EU is most effective in its efforts directed at fighting crime – in this case the objective is the safety of the victim.
This year, an addition was made to the 2009 EPO directive. On 27 April, justice ministers met to back another bill that focuses on the protection of crime victims. This proposal discusses a standard certificate that will be made available to victims of crimes. This certificate will contain all relevant information pertaining to their case and will serve to be presented to authorities when the victim travels across EU member state borders. Because an EU standard would be set, it would bypass any lengthy procedures the victim might have to endure to ensure their safety upon entering a new country. This also lowers the chances of the victim’s aggressor having the opportunity to take advantage of the new location of the victim.
The civil liberties, justice and home affairs and women’s rights committees in the European Parliament are set to vote on the proposed regulation in late May. Some of the changes or additions that MEPs are looking to make include expanding the list of victims to those of hate crimes, asylum seekers, and attempted homicide, just to name a few. The women’s rights committee will certainly also seek to ensure that adequate measures are in place with respect to gender-based crimes affecting European women.
The Commission has recently stressed the importance of protection from organised crime. On their website, the Commission lays out the consequences that organised crime can have on a variety of areas of EU policy. These areas include but are not limited to business, citizens, state institutions, and the economy. One body that has long been working to fight crime in the EU is the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN). The EUCPN was founded in 2001 by a Council decision and revised in 2009 by another Council decision. It serves to fight crime by sharing best practices among member states. The EUCPN contributes to developing local and national strategies on crime prevention.
On a different note, the Commission recently took up a campaign to fight against cyber crime. In March of this year, the Commission proposed the establishment of a European Cybercrime Centre within Europol. The Commission suggests this centre would warn member states of major cybercrime threats and would carry out constant training in this field.
Perhaps one of the most talked about efforts made by the EU this year is the Passenger Name Record Agreement made with the United States. On 19 April, the Parliament approved this new agreement, which had been discussed in the EU institutions for months. The agreement serves to fight against transnational crime and terrorism. The plan entails the storage of passenger data for European and American citizens travelling to EU countries or the United States for five years. The hope is that with shared information on those travelling in and out of these countries, the institutions will be able to keep better track of and protect citizens from those who may pose a threat to national security on either end.
There is a clear sense of dedication to crime prevention in the EU, with new legislation and directives being created and discussed every day. Being that crime prevention, in its most basic form, is something most people can agree on irrespective of nationality, it can be seen as a source of unification for Europeans. Keeping EU citizens safe at home and abroad is an overarching objective for all EU policy-makers. We are on the right track with the initiatives discussed here being certainly most welcome.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP