Slovenia wants to turn Europol into EU agency

Slovenia’s Interior Minister Dragutin Mate has said that he hopes to get agreement by June next year, during his country’s presidency of the EU, on converting Europol into an EU agency.

The plans have been discussed since the start of the German presidency in January but remain controversial because of battles between member states and disagreements between national governments and the European Commission over immunity for Europol police officers and how the body should be funded.

Mate will propose allowing Europol police officers to retain their immunity when operating in a member state other than their own. But a clause allowing for the immunity of Europol police officers to be removed could be introduced in the regulation at a later stage, he said in an interview with European Voice. Member states would thus make a declaration committing themselves to resolving the immunity issue at the next revision of the regulation.

"Immunity is part of [Europol] staff regulations you cannot change in one year," Mate said, adding that the regulation could provide for "ex post relieving of immunity".

Some member states, notably the UK and Germany, insist that Europol police officers should not operate on their territory without the possibility of being prosecuted. The Commission, on the other hand, argues that few Europol staff will operate on member states’ territories and that the entire Europol staff regulation should not be changed just because of this small group of people. These police officers will be co-ordinating joint investigation teams and will not be carrying guns or arresting people, the Commission adds.

"Immunity is a very tough system. Some countries have a different opinion on how to fix that and now we will try to find political consensus," said Mate.

He admitted that the immunity issue was the major obstacle to be overcome. "If we are successful on that we can reach the date that was put down - June 2008," he said.

On funding, he said that a compromise could be worked out by proving to member states reluctant to see Europol’s money come from the EU budget, rather than national capitals, that there would be no major increases in spending.

"It is not easy but it’s reachable," he said.

Slovenia’s Interior Minister Dragutin Mate has said that he hopes to get agreement by June next year, during his country’s presidency of the EU, on converting Europol into an EU agency.