The evolution of European Union criminal law (1957-2012)

Initiatives ranged from the creation of a framework for liaison officers with “more rapid
and effective cooperation between law enforcement agencies” in mind, 280 to frameworks
of cooperation between contact points and exchange of information between national
authorities in relation to terrorism and sexual exploitation of human beings, for example.
This was the case of the Joint Action on the exchange of counter terrorism expertise 281
and of the Joint Action establishing incentives and exchange programmes for persons
responsible for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of
children. 282 The first envisaged the enhancement of cooperation between national
counter-terrorist agencies, namely through the creation and availability of a directory of
counter-terrorist competences, skills and expertise, 283 whilst the second established a
programme to develop and coordinate initiatives such as training, studies or exchange of
actions on the combat of trafficking in human beings, on the sexual exploitation of
children, on the disappearance of minors and on the use of telecommunications
facilities. 284
Subsequently, efforts for a better mutual knowledge were streamlined with the creation
of EU’s own bodies in relation to police cooperation. The first of those bodies was the
European Drug Unit (EDU) a non-operational team whose main objective was to
provide support and assistance to national police and other agencies to combat criminal
activities namely through the exchange and analysis of information and intelligence,
created in 1993. 285 Initially these exchanges were to be related to offences on drug
trafficking and associated money laundering and organised crime but the remit was later
on extended to the fight against illegal trade in radioactive and nuclear substances,
illegal immigration networks, vehicle trafficking and associated money laundering
operations. 286 The EDU was composed of national liaison officers which acted according
to their national legislation. Furthermore, the EDU also had four analysts whose task
280 Preamble of the Joint Action of 14 October 1996 adopted by the Council on the basis of
Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union providing for a common framework for the
initiatives of the Member States concerning liaison officers, OJ L 268/ 2 [1996]. See also Article
1 of the Joint Action.
281 Ibid..
282 Joint Action 96/700/JHA of 29 November 1996 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article
K.3 of the Treaty on European Union establishing an incentive and exchange programme for
persons responsible for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children,
OJ L 322/7 [1996].
283 Article 1 of the Joint Action, ibid..
284 See Preamble and Article 1 of the Joint Action, ibid..
285 Ministerial Agreement on the establishment of Europol Drugs Unit, Copenhagen, 2 June 1993,
in Bunyan, Key Texys in Justice and Home Affairs, supra note 141.
286 Preamble and article 2 of the Joint Action 96/748/JHA of 16 December 1996 adopted by the
Council on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union extending the mandate
given to the Europol Drugs Unit, OJ L 342/4 [1996].
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