EU adopts Prum Treaty.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: UP FRONT - European Union

The European Council of Ministers has agreed to allow all EU nations to share access to genetic records, fingerprints, and traffic offenses, as well as allow national police to operate across borders.

The decision essentially makes the controversial Prum Treaty, which had allowed law enforcement file sharing among the seven EU nations that had signed on, EU law. The Prum Treaty, signed in May 2005 by Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Austria, allowed the police forces of those countries to compare and exchange data more easily.

On June 12, the 27 member states passed a slightly revised version of the treaty into EU law--a move aimed at tracking down serious crime suspects and terror groups. The treaty is expected to be adopted by all 27 EU nations by the fall, after which they will have three years to amend their domestic laws to comply with the agreement.

Under the agreement, EUobserver.com reported, a member state can access the "reference data" in the DNA files of another member state, with the power to conduct automated searches by comparing DNA profiles. Signatories must open up DNA and fingerprint records to help "investigation of criminal offences." Reference data will not contain any information directly identifying a person although, in some cases, member states will also share suspects' personal data.

In addition, national police may enter another EU state's territory and operate alongside their colleagues while carrying their usual service weapons and wearing their own national uniforms.

The initial push for stronger EU-wide security legislation came from Germany, which co-authored the original Prum Treaty. But the original pact was revised a bit before all 27 EU nations would agree to it. The main opposition came from the United Kingdom and Ireland, who...