Brussels, June 24th, 2008 (ALDE Press Release) - Today the Civil Liberties Committee of the EP endorsed the plan of the Council to strengthen Eurojust. MEPs emphasise though that a right balance between data transmission and data protection has to be struck.
 
The Council foresees improvement to the exchange of information between Member States. Furthermore, Eurojust should be available 24 hours a day, the relations with other partners like FRONTEX and Interpol have to be reinforced and cooperation with third countries has to be improved.
 
ALDE spokesperson Renate Weber (National Liberal Party, Romania) believes Eurojust has proven its necessity in the field of judicial cooperation on criminal matters. She agrees with Council that the increase of mobility, globalisation effects on cross-border crimes and the changes in the way judicial cooperation is taking place make it necessary to strengthen the role of Eurojust. Weber underlines the need to keep an eye on the balance of powers between Eurojust and national members on the one hand and the right to defence and fair trial of defendants on the other.
 
"It is of utmost importance that an adequate level of personal data protection is guaranteed. Too often institutions are not careful in handling sensitive information of citizens. We should also be very careful in transmitting data to third countries and organisations."
 
ALDE amendments to increase the level of protection of procedural rights were adopted.
 
"Last but not least, defendants should fully enjoy their right to a fair trial. Therefore I proposed amendments to strengthen the right to defence, the right to be informed and the right to judicial redress. I am satisfied the committee members accepted my proposals" according to Renate Weber.

For more information please contact:
Neil Corlett: +32-2-284 20 77 or +32-478-78 22 84
Jeroen Reijnen: +32-2-283 25 18 or +32-473-39 47 10

http://www.alde.eu