Council Decision of 28 November 2002 setting up a European Network for the Protection of Public Figures

The protection of visiting public figures is the responsibility of the host European Union (EU) country. Following a Council recommendation of 6 December 2001 setting a common scale for assessing threats to public figures visiting the EU and an initiative of Spain, the Council adopted this decision to close loopholes in the law on the protection of public figures.

This decision sets up a European network for the protection of public figures. The network consists of national police and other competent services dealing with the protection of public figures. Each EU country designates a national contact point for the network. Candidate countries to the EU as well as Europol may also designate contact points.

The public figures covered by the decision are those who visit the EU either in an official or non-official capacity and to whom a protection service is assigned under the national law of an EU country or the rules of an international or supranational organisation or institution.

The EU country holding the Presidency of the Council is responsible for promoting the activities of the network.

This decision was amended by Council Decision 2009/796/JHA of 4 June 2009 amending Decision 2002/956/JHA setting up a European Network for the Protection of Public Figures