Action Plan to combat organized crime

The European Council (Dublin 13 and 14 December 1996) underlined its absolute determination to fight organized crime and stressed the need for a coherent and coordinated approach by the Union. It decided to create a High Level Group to draw up a comprehensive Action Plan containing specific recommendations, including realistic timetables for carrying out the work. The Group was requested to examine the fight against organized crime in all its aspects on the clear understanding that it would refer any issues involving Treaty change to the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) which is addressing Treaty changes in this area as a priority. The Group should complete its work by March/April 1997 (1). The letter of the Chairman of the High Level Group to the Chairman of the IGC containing the results of this examination is set out in an Annex to this report.

The High Level Group has held six meetings in pursuance of this mandate. Its findings have led to the drawing up of 15 Political Guidelines and 30 Specific Recommendations, together with a proposed timetable and an indication of where the responsibility for implementation of each recommendation might be considered to lie. These are set out in Part III of this report in the form of a detailed Action Plan.

In submitting this Action Plan to the Heads of State and Government, the High Level Group underlines its conviction that the fight against organized crime and terrorism is a never-ending endeavour. The fight must be uncompromising but must always use legitimate means and pay full respect to the principles of the Rule of Law, democracy and human rights, not losing sight of the fact that it is the protection of those values which is the raison raison d'être for fighting organized crime.