Europe From the Inside

• NCJ Number: 123686
• Journal: Policing Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 338-354
• Author(s): F Geysels
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This article examines Belgian policing issues related to the forthcoming abolition of European internal frontiers and border checks in January 1993 by describing bilateral and multilateral agreements and the compensations measures they have instituted.

Abstract

Belgium has concluded a number of bilateral agreements on limited cross-border power for the national police forces of France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany in an effort to promote police cooperation within a legal framework. While such agreements can be adopted relatively quickly, they lack uniformity and may cause confusion in police operations. Two of the Benelux protocol-agreements deal with extradition and legal assistance in criminal cases, and the transfer of border formalities for individuals to the external frontiers of the Benelux area. The Schengen agreements between the Benelux countries, France, and West Germany facilitated the abolition of all customs and immigration formalities at European Community internal frontiers by phasing them out among these five signatory countries. Currently, cooperative activities in the region are focusing on drugs, weapons and ammunition, frontier policing, information exchange, and police cooperation. The European Community is confronting terrorism issues through the five Trevi working groups which have mandates to develop anti-terrorist measures, police training procedures, security measures for civil aviation, safety plans for nuclear installations and transport, and emergency contingency measures. A multilateral treaty on police cooperation and the internationalization of police detection work should consider a police information center; data exchange in international crime prevention; and the harmonization of criminal law and police procedures on pursuit, sentencing policy, victims' rights, and police crime prevention techniques. 8 references. (Publisher abstract modified)