Written question asked by John Hayes (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 October 2005. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Monday, 21 November 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Cross-border Co-operation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his position on the establishment of an EU grouping of cross-border co-operation, with particular reference to (a) the powers proposed for the grouping and (b) the treaty base under which the grouping is proposed.

Answer: The ‘Convention on the stepping-up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal migration' (commonly referred to as the Prüm treaty) was signed in Prüm, Germany on 27 May 2005. The current contracting parties are Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria and Belgium. The treaty is open to all EU member states to join if they wish to do so. The Home Office, in consultation with other Government Departments, is currently considering the treaty. The Government have not yet made a decision on whether the UK will accede to the treaty.(a) The Prüm treaty does not propose any new powers for the contracting parties.The treaty forms the basis for enhanced cross- border cooperation between the contracting parties, particularly the mutual exchange of information.(b) The Prüm treaty does not require a treaty base. It is not made under either the treaty on European Union or the treaty establishing the European Community.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 23026; 439 c1745W;439 c1747W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Crime prevention Cross border cooperation EU countries Undocumented migrants Powers Terrorism Treaties
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk