Europol Act 1997

Each Member State shall treat any infringement of the obligation of discretion or confidentiality laid down in paragraphs 2 and 3 as a breach of the obligations imposed by its law on official or professional secrets or its provisions for the protection of confidential material.

Reports and all other papers and documentation placed before the Management Board shall be submitted in all official languages of the European Union; the working languages of the Management Board shall be the official languages of the European Union.

The translations required for Europol's work shall be provided by the translation centre of the European Union institutions.

The Council Presidency shall each year forward a special report to the European Parliament on the work of Europol. The European Parliament shall be consulted should this Convention be amended in any way.

The Council Presidency or its representative appointed by the Presidency shall, with respect to the European Parliament, take into account the obligations of discretion and confidentiality.

The obligations laid down in this Article shall be without prejudice to the rights of national parliaments, to Article K.6 of the Treaty on European Union and to the general principles applicable to relations with the European Parliament pursuant to Title VI of the Treaty on European Union.

Estimates shall be drawn up of all of Europol's income and expenditure including all costs of the joint supervisory body and of the secretariat set up by it under Article 22 for each financial year and these items entered in the budget; an establishment plan shall be appended to the budget. The financial year shall begin on 1 January and end on 31 December.

The budget shall be financed from Member States' contributions and by other incidental income. Each Member State's financial contribution shall be determined according to the proportion of its gross national product to the sum total of the gross national products of the Member States for the year preceding the year in which the budget is drawn up. For the purposes of this paragraph, ‘gross national product’ shall mean gross national product as determined in accordance with Council Directive 89/130/EEC, Euratom of 13 February 1989 on the harmonization of the compilation of gross national product at market prices.

By 31 March each year at the latest, the Director shall draw up the draft budget and draft establishment plan for the following financial year and shall submit them, after examination by the Financial Committee, to the Management Board together with the draft five-year financing plan.

The Management Board shall take a decision on the five-year financing plan. It shall act unanimously.

After obtaining the opinion of the Management Board, the Council shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, adopt Europol's budget by 30 June of the year preceding the financial year at the latest. It shall act unanimously. The adoption of the budget by the Council shall entail the obligation for each Member State to make available promptly the financial contribution due from it.

The Director shall implement the budget in accordance with the financial regulation provided for in paragraph 9.

Monitoring of the commitment and disbursement of expenditure and of the establishment and collection of income shall be carried out by a financial controller from an official audit body of one of the Member States who shall be appointed by the Management Board, acting unanimously, and shall be accountable to it. The financial regulation may make provision for ex-post monitoring by the financial controller in the case of certain items of income or expenditure.

The Financial Committee shall be composed of one budgetary representative from each Member State. Its task shall be to prepare for discussions on budgetary and financial matters.

The Council shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, unanimously adopt the financial regulation, specifying in particular the detailed rules for drawing up, amending and implementing the budget and for monitoring its implementation as well as for the manner of payment of financial contributions by the Member States.

The accounts in respect of all income and expenditure entered in the budget together with the balance sheet showing Europol's assets and liabilities shall be subject to an annual audit in accordance with the financial regulation. For this purpose the Director shall submit a report on the annual accounts by 31 May of the following year at the latest.

The audit shall be carried out by a joint audit committee composed of three members, appointed by the Court of Auditors of the European Communities on a proposal from its President. The term of office of the members shall be three years; these shall alternate in such a way that each year the member who has been on the audit committee for three years shall be replaced. Notwithstanding the provisions of the second sentence, the term of office of the member that, after drawing lots:

The joint audit committee shall in accordance with the procedure laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union submit to the Council an audit report on the annual accounts; prior thereto the Director and Financial Controller shall be given an opportunity to express an opinion on the audit report and the report shall be discussed by the Management Board.

The Europol Director shall provide the members of the joint audit committee with all information and every assistance which they require in order to perform their tasks.

A decision on the discharge to be given to the Director in respect of budget implementation for the financial year in question shall be taken by the Council, after examination of the report on the annual accounts.

The detailed rules for performing audits shall be laid down in the Financial Regulation.

Each Member State shall be liable, in accordance with its national law, for any damage caused to an individual as a result of legal or factual errors in data stored or processed at Europol. Only the Member State in which the event which gave rise to the damage occurred may be the subject of an action for compensation on the part of the injured party, who shall apply to the courts having jurisdiction under the national law of the Member State involved. A Member State may not plead that another Member State had transmitted inaccurate data in order to avoid its liability under its national legislation vis-á-vis an injured party.

If these legal or factual errors occurred as a result of data erroneously communicated or of failure to comply with the obligations laid down in this Convention on the part of one or more Member States or as a result of unauthorized or incorrect storage or processing by Europol, Europol or the other Member State in question shall be bound to repay, on request, the amounts paid as compensation unless the data were used by the Member State in the territory of which the damage was caused in breach of this Convention.

Any dispute between that Member State and Europol or another Member State over the principle or amount of the repayment must be referred to the Management Board, which shall settle the matter by a two-thirds majority.

Europol's contractual liability shall be governed by the law applicable to the contract in question.

In the case of non-contractual liability, Europol shall be obliged, independently of any liability under Article 38, to make good any damage caused through the fault of its organs, of its Deputy Directors or of its employees in the performance of their duties, in so far as it may be imputed to them and regardless of the different procedures for claiming damages which exist under the law of the Member States.

The injured party shall have the right to demand that Europol refrain from or drop any action.

The national courts of the Member States competent to deal with disputes involving Europol's liability as referred to in this Article shall be determined by reference to the relevant provisions of the Brussels Convention of 27 September 1968 on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgements in Civil and Commercial Matters, as later amended by Accession Agreements.

Disputes between Member States on the interpretation or application of this Convention shall in an initial stage be discussed by the Council in accordance with the procedure set out in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union with the aim of finding a settlement.

When such disputes are not so settled within six months, the Members States who are parties to the dispute shall decide, by agreement among themselves, the modalities according to which they shall be settled.

The provisions on appeals referred to in the rules relating to the conditions of employment applicable to temporary and auxiliary staff of the European Communities shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to Europol staff.

Europol, the members of its organs and the Deputy Directors and employees of Europol shall enjoy the privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of their task in accordance with a Protocol setting out the rules to be applied in all Member States.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands and the other Member States shall agree in the same terms that liaison officers seconded from the other Member States as well as members of their families shall enjoy those privileges and immunities necessary for the proper performance of the tasks of the liaison officers at Europol.

The Protocol referred to in paragraph 1 shall be adopted by the Council acting unanimously in accordance with the procedure laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union and approved by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

In so far as is relevant for the performance of the tasks described in Article 3, Europol shall establish and maintain cooperative relations with third bodies within the meaning of Article 10 (4), points 1 to 3. The Management Board shall unanimously draw up rules governing such relations. This provision shall be without prejudice to Article 10 (4) and (5) and Article 18 (2); exchanges of personal data shall take place only in accordance with the provisions of Titles II to IV of this Convention.

In so far as is required for the performance of the tasks described in Article 3, Europol may also establish and maintain relations with third States and third bodies within the meaning of Article 10 (4), points 4, 5, 6 and 7. Having obtained the opinion of the Management Board, the Council, acting unanimously in accordance with the procedure laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, shall draw up rules governing the relations referred to in the first sentence. The third sentence of paragraph 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

In accordance with the procedure laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, the Council, acting on a proposal from a Member State and, after consulting the Management Board, shall unanimously decide, within the framework of Article K.l (9) of the Treaty on European Union, on any amendments to this Convention which it shall recommend to the Member States for adoption in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

The amendments shall enter into force in accordance with Article 45 (2) of this Convention.

However, the Council, acting unanimously in accordance with the procedure laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, may decide, on the initiative of a Member State and after the Management Board has discussed the matter, to amplify, amend or supplement the definitions of forms of crime contained in the Annex. It may in addition decide to introduce new definitions of the forms of crime listed in the Annex.

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall notify all Member States of the date of entry into force of the amendments.

This Convention shall be subject to adoption by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Member States shall notify the depositary of the completion of their constitutional requirements for adopting this Convention.

This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiry of a three-month period after the notification, referred to in paragraph 2, by the Member State which, being a member of the European Union on the date of adoption by the Council of the act drawing up this Convention, is the last to fulfil that formality.

Without prejudice to paragraph 2, Europol shall not take up its activities under this Convention until the last of the acts provided for in Articles 5 (7), 10 (1), 24 (7), 30 (3), 31 (1), 35 (9), 37 and 41 (1) and (2) enters into force.

When Europol takes up its activities, the activities of the Europol Drugs Unit under the joint action concerning the Europol Drugs Unit of 10 March 1995 shall come to an end. At the same time, all equipment financed from the Europol Drugs Unit joint budget, developed or produced by the Europol Drugs Unit or placed at its disposal free of charge by the headquarters State for its permanent use, together with that Unit's entire archives and independently administered data files shall become the property of Europol.

Once the Council has adopted the act drawing up this Convention, Member States, acting either individually or in common, shall take all preparatory measures under their national law which are necessary for the commencement of Europol activities.

This Convention shall be open to accession by any State that becomes a member of the European Union.

The text of this Convention in the language of the acceding State, drawn up by the Council of the European Union, shall be authentic.

Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the depositary.

This Convention shall enter into force with respect to any State that accedes to it on the first day of the month following expiry of a three-month period following the date of deposit of its instrument of accession or on the date of entry into force of the Convention if it has not already entered into force at the time of expiry of the said period.

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall act as depositary of this Convention.

The depositary shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities the notifications, instruments or communications concerning this Convention.

By a declaration made at the time of the signing of this Protocol or at any time thereafter, any Member State shall be able to accept the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Communities to give preliminary rulings on the interpretation of the Europol Convention under the conditions specified in either paragraph 2 (a) or (b).

A Member State making a declaration under paragraph 1 may specify that either:

The Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Communities and the Rules of Procedure of that Court of Justice shall apply.

In accordance with the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, any Member State, whether or not it has made a declaration pursuant to Article 2, shall be entitled to submit statements of case or written observations to the Court of Justice of the European Communities in cases which arise under Article 1.

This Protocol shall be subject to adoption by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Member States shall notify the depositary of the completion of their respective constitutional requirements for adopting this Protocol and communicate to him any declaration made pursuant to Article 2.

This Protocol shall enter into force 90 days after the notification, referred to in paragraph 2, by the Member State which, being a member of the European Union on the date of adoption by the Council of the act drawing up this Protocol, is the last to fulfil that formality. However, it shall at the earliest enter into force at the same time as the Europol Convention.

This Protocol shall be open to accession by any State that becomes a member of the European Union.

Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the depositary.

The text of this Protocol in the language of the acceding State, drawn up by the Council of the European Union, shall be authentic.

This Protocol shall enter into force with respect to any State that accedes to it 90 days after the date of deposit of its instrument of accession, or on the date of the entry into force of this Protocol if the latter has not yet come into force when the said period of 90 days expires.

Amendments to this Protocol may be proposed by any Member State, being a High Contracting Party. Any proposal for an amendment shall be sent to the depositary, who shall forward it to the Council.

Amendments shall be established by the Council, which shall recommend that they be adopted by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Amendments thus established shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall act as depositary of this Protocol.

The depositary shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities the notifications, instruments or communications concerning this Protocol.

Europol shall have immunity from legal process for the liability referred to in Article 38(1) of the Convention in respect of unauthorized or incorrect data processing.

The property, funds and assets of Europol, wherever located on the territories of the Member States and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, seizure, requisition, confiscation and any other form of interference.

Within the scope of its official activities, Europol, its assets, income and other property shall be exempt from all direct taxes.

Europol shall be exempt from indirect taxes and duties included in the price of movable and immovable property and services, acquired for its official use and involving considerable expenditure. The exemption may be granted by way of a refund.

Goods purchased under this Article with exemption from value-added tax or excise duties shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of, except in accordance with the conditions agreed upon with the Member State that has granted the exemption.

No exemption will be granted from taxes and duties which represent charges for specific services rendered.

Member States shall permit Europol to communicate freely and without a need for special permission, for all official purposes, and shall protect the right of Europol to do so. Europol shall have the right to use codes and to dispatch and receive official correspondence and other official communications by courier or in sealed bags which shall be subject to the same privileges and immunities as diplomatic couriers and bags.

Europol shall, as far as may be compatible with the International Telecommunications Convention of 6 November 1982, for its official communications enjoy treatment not less favourable than that accorded by Member States to any international organization or government, including diplomatic missions of such government, in the matter of priorities for communication by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, radio, television, telephone, fax, satellite, or other means.

Members of the organs of Europol and staff members of Europol shall enjoy the following immunities:

Staff members of Europol, whose salaries and emoluments are subject to a tax for the benefit of Europol as mentioned in Article 10, shall enjoy exemption from income tax with respect to salaries and emoluments paid by Europol. However, such salaries and emoluments may be taken into account when assessing the amount of tax payable on income from other sources. This paragraph does not apply to pensions and annuities paid to former staff members of Europol and their dependants.

The provisions of Article 14 of the Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Communities shall apply to the staff members of Europol.

Subject to the conditions and following the procedures laid down by Europol and agreed by the Board, the staff members of Europol engaged for a minimum period of one year shall be subject to a tax for the benefit of Europol on salaries and emoluments paid by Europol.

Each year, Member States shall be notified of the names and addresses of the staff members of Europol mentioned in this Article as well as of any other personnel contracted to work at Europol. Europol shall deliver to each of them a yearly certificate bearing the total gross and net amount of remuneration of any kind paid by Europol for the year in question, including the details and nature of payments and the amounts of withholdings at source.

This Article does not apply to pensions and annuities paid to former staff members of Europol and their dependants.

The privileges and immunities granted under the provisions of this Protocol are conferred in the interests of Europol and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves. It is the duty of Europol and all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to observe in all other respects the laws and regulations of Member States.

The Director shall be required to waive the immunity of Europol and any staff member of Europol, in cases where the immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of Europol. In respect of the Director, the Financial Controller and the members of the Financial Committee, the Board has a similar obligation. In respect of Members of the Board, the waiving of the immunities shall be within the competence of the respective Member States.

When the immunity of Europol as mentioned in Article 2(2) has been waived, searches and seizures ordered by the judicial authorities of the Member States shall be effected in the presence of the Director or a person delegated by him, in compliance with the rules of confidentiality laid down in or by virtue of the Convention.

Europol shall cooperate at all times with the appropriate authorities of Member States to facilitate the proper administration of justice and shall prevent any abuse of the privileges and immunities granted under the provisions of this Protocol.

Should a competent authority or judicial body of a Member State consider that an abuse of a privilege or immunity conferred by this Protocol has occurred, the body responsible for waiving immunity pursuant to paragraph 2 shall, upon request, consult with the appropriate authorities to determine whether any such abuse has occurred. If such consultations fail to achieve a result satisfactory for both sides, the matter shall be settled in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 13.

Disputes on a refusal to waive an immunity of Europol or of a person who, by reason of his official position, enjoys immunity as mentioned in Article 8(1), shall be discussed by the Council in accordance with the procedure set out in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union with the aim of finding a settlement.

When such disputes are not settled, the Council shall unanimously decide on the modalities according to which they shall be settled.

This Protocol shall be subject to adoption by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Member States shall notify the depositary of the completion of their respective constitutional requirements for adopting this Protocol.

This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the notification, referred to in paragraph 2, by the Member State which, being a member of the European Union on the date of adoption by the Council of the Act drawing up this Protocol, is the last to fulfil that formality.

This Protocol shall be open to accession by any State that becomes a member of the European Union.

Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the depository.

The text of this Protocol in the language of the acceding State, drawn up by the Council of the European Union, shall be authentic.

This Protocol shall enter into force with respect to any State that accedes to it, ninety days after the date of deposit of its instrument of accession, or on the date of the entry into force of this Protocol if the latter has not yet come into force when the said period of ninety days expires.

Within two years after the entry into force of this Protocol, it will be evaluated under the supervision of the Management Board.

Immunity pursuant to Article 8(1)(a) shall be granted only in respect of official acts which require to be undertaken in fulfilment of the tasks set out in Article 3 of the Convention in the version signed on 26 July 1995. Prior to each amendment or extension of the tasks in Article 3 of the Convention there shall be a review in accordance with the first paragraph, in particular with regard to Articles 8(1)(a) and 13.

Amendments to this Protocol may be proposed by any Member State, being a High Contracting Party. Any proposal for an amendment shall be sent to the depository, who shall forward it to the Council.

Amendments shall be established unanimously by the Council, which shall recommend that they be adopted by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Amendments thus established shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 15.

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall notify all Member States of the date of entry into force of the amendments.

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall act as depositary of this Protocol.

The depositary shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities the notifications, instruments or communications concerning this Protocol.

Bunaíonn Ballstáit an Aontais Eorpaigh, dá ngairtear ‘na Ballstáit’ anseo feasta, leis seo Oifig Eorpach Póilíní dá ngairtear ‘Europol’ anseo feasta.

Beidh Europol i gcuibhreann le haonad náisiúnta amháin i ngach Ballstát a dhéanfar a bhunú nó a ainmniú i gcomhréir le hAirteagal 4.

Beidh de chuspóir ag Europol, faoi chuimsiú comhair idir na Ballstáit de bhun Airteagal K.1(9) den Chonradh ar an Aontas Eorpach, trí na bearta dá bhforáiltear sa Choinbhinsiún seo, feabhas a chur ar éifeachtúlacht agus comhar na n-údarás inniúil sna Ballstáit, agus sceimhlitheoireacht, gáinneáil neamhdhleathach drugaí agus saghsanna eile tromchúiseacha coirpeachta idirnáisiúnta á gcosc agus á gcomhrac acu, nuair atá taispeántaí fíorasacha ann go bhfuil struchtúr coiriúil eagraithe i dtreis agus go bhfuil na saghsanna coirpeachta sin ag cur isteach ar dhá Bhallstát nó níos mó ar dhóigh gur gá cur chuige coiteann ag na Ballstáit toisc raon, tábhacht agus iarmhairtí na gcionta i dtrácht.

Chun an cuspóir atá luaite i mír 1 a ghnóthú go comhleanúnach, gníomhóidh Europol i dtosach chun gáinneáil neamhdhleathach drugaí agus substaintí núicléacha agus radaighníomhacha, smugláil neamhdhlíthiúil imirceach, ceannaíocht i ndaoine agus gáinneáil mhótarfheithiclí goidte a chosc agus a chomhrac.

Áireofar freisin ar inniúlacht Europol maidir le saghas coirp eachta nó le cineálacha sonracha de shaghas coirpeachta:

Chun críocha an Choinbhinsiúin seo, ciallaíonn ‘údaráis inniúla’ gach comhlacht poiblí sna Ballstáit atá freagrach faoin dlí náisiúnta as cionta coiriúla a chosc agus a chomhrac.

Chun críocha mhíreanna 1 agus 2, ciallaíonn ‘gáinneáil neamhdhleathach drugaí’ na cionta coiriúla atá liostaithe in Airteagal 3(1) de Choinbhinsiún na Náisiún Aontaithe an 20 Nollaig 1988 i gcoinne Gáinneáil Aindleathach Drugaí Támhshuanacha agus Substaintí Síceatrópacha agus sna forálacha ag leasú an Choinbhinsiúin sin nó ag gabháil a ionaid.

Faoi chuimsiú a chuspóra de bhun Airteagal 2(1), beidh na príomhfheidhmeanna seo a leanas ar Europol:

D'fhonn éifeachtúlacht na n-údarás inniúil sna Ballstáit agus an comhar eatarthu a fheabhsú trí na haonaid náisiúnta d'fhonn an cuspóir atá leagtha amach in Airteagal 2(1) a chomhall, beidh ina theannta sin na feidhmeanna breise seo a leanas ar Europol:

Ina theannta sin, féadfaidh Europol, faoi chuimsiú a chuspóra de bhun Airteagal 2(1) i gcomhréir lena acmhainní foirne agus buiséadacha agus faoi na teorainneacha arna socrú ag an mBord Bainistíochta, cuidiú le Ballstáit tri chomhairle agus taighde sna réimsí seo a leanas:

Bunóidh gach Ballstát, nó ainmneoidh sé, aonad náisiúnta chun na feidhmeanna atá liostaithe san Airteagal seo a chomhall.

Is é an t-aonad náisiúnta an t-aon chomhlacht liaison idir Europol agus na húdaráis náisiúnta inniúla. Beidh caidreamh idir an t-aonad náisiúnta agus na húdaráis inniúla faoi rialú ag an dlí náisiúnta, go háirithe ag na rialacha bunreachtúla ábhartha.

Glacfaidh na Ballstáit na bearta is gá chun a áirithiú go bhféadfaidh na haonaid náisiúnta a bhfeidhmeanna a chomhall agus, go háirithe, chun rochtain ag aonaid náisiúnta ar shonraí náisiúnta ábhartha a áirithiú.

Is é cúram na n-aonad náisiúnta:

Gan dochar d'fheidhmiú fhreagrachtaí na mBallstát mar atá siad leagtha síos in Airteagal K.2(2) den Chonradh ar an Aontas Eorpach, ni dhlífear d'aonad náisiúnta i gcás leithleach an fhaisnéis agus an t-eolas dá bhforáiltear i bpointí 1, 2 agus 6 de mhír 4 agus in Airteagail 7 agus 10 a sholáthar:

Iompróidh na Ballstáit na costais arna dtabhú ag na haonaid náisiúnta i leith cumarsáidí le hEuropol agus, seachas costáis nasctha, ni mhuirearófar ar Europol iad.

Tiocfaidh ceannairí na n-aonad náisiúnta le chéile a mhéad is gá chun cabhrú le hEuropol lena gcuid comhairle.

Tabharfaidh gach aonad náisiúnta oifigeach liaison amháin ar a laghad ar iasacht d'Europol. Déanfaidh an Bord Bainistíochta líon na n-oifigeach liaison a fhéadfaidh na Ballstáit a chur chuig Europol a leagan síos trí chinneadh d'aon toil; féadfar an cinneadh a athrú tráth ar bith trí chinneadh d'aon toil ón mBord Bainistíochta. Mura bhforáiltear a mhalairt i bhforálacha sonracha an Choinbhinsiúin seo, beidh oifigigh liaison faoi réir dhlí náisiúnta an Bhallstáit tionscnaimh.

Ordóidh na haonaid náisiúnta dá n-oifigigh liaison leasahna na n-aonad náisiúnta sin a ionadú laistigh de Europol i gcomhréir le dlí náisiúnta an Bhallstáit tionscnaimh, agus na forálacha is infheidhme ar oibriú Europol á n-urramú acu.

Gan dochar d'Airteagal 4(4) agus (5), cuideoidh na hoifigigh liaison, faoi chuimsiú an chuspóra atá leagtha síos in Airteagal 2(1), le faisnéis a mhalartú idir na haonaid náisiúnta tionscnaimh agus Europol, go háirithe:

San am céanna, cuideoidh na hoifigigh liaison le faisnéis ón aonad náisiúnta a mhalartú maille leis na bearta a leanann uaidh a chomhordú, i gcomhréir lena ndlí náisiúnta agus faoi chuimsiú an chuspóra atá leagtha síos in Airteagal 2(1).

A mhéad is gá chun na cúraimí faoi mhír 3 thuas a chomhlíonadh, beidh an ceart ag na hoifigigh liaison rochtain a bheith acu ar na comhaid éagsúla sonraí i gcomhréir leis na forálacha iomchuí arna sonrú sna hairteagail ábhartha.

Beidh Airteagal 25 infheidhme mutatis mutandis ar ghníomhaíocht na n-oifigeach liaison.

Gan dochar d'fhorálacha eile an Choinbhinsiúin seo, cinnfidh an Bord Bainistíochta d'aon toil cearta agus oibleagáidí na n-oifigeach liaison i ndáil le hEuropol.

Beidh ag na hoifigigh liaison na pribhléidí agus díolúintí is gá chun a gcúraimí a chomhlíonadh i gcomhréir le hAirteagal 41(2).

Soláthróidh Europol saor ó tháille do na Ballstáit na háitribh is gá i bhfoirgneamh Europol do ghníomhaíocht a n-oifigeach liaison. Iompróidh an Ballstát tionscnaimh gach costas eile a bheidh i dtreis maidir le hoifigigh liaison a thabhairt ar iasacht; iompróidh sé freisin costas threalamh na n-oifigeach liaison, mura molfaidh an Bord Bainistíochta a mhalairt d'aon toil i gcás leithleach agus buiséad Europol á bhunú aige.

Riarfaidh Europol córas ríomhairithe faisnéise bailithe leis na heilimintí seo a leanas:

Ní ceadmhach ar aon chúinse an córas ríomhairithe faisnéise bailithe arna oibriú ag Europol a nascadh le córais eile uathphróiseála, amach ó cháras uathphróiseála na n-aonad náisiúnta.

D'fhonn a fheidhmeanna a chomhall, déanfaidh Europol córas ríomhairithe faisnéise a bhunú agus a riar. Is iad na Ballstáit, trína n-aonaid náisiúnta agus a gcuid oifigeach liaison i gcomhréir lena nósanna imeachta náisiúnta, agus Europol, maidir leis na sonraí ó thríú Stáit agus tríú comhlachtaí agus na sonraí a thagann ó anailísí, a dhéanfaidh sonraí a ionchur go díreach sa chóras faisnéise. Beidh rochtain dhíreach air chun é a cheadú ag aonaid náisiúnta, oifigigh liaison, an Stiúrthóir, na Leas-Stiúrthóirí agus oifigigh chuí-údaraithe Europol.

Is é cúram Europol:

Beidh an t-aonad náisiúnta i ngach Ballstát freagrach as páirtiú leis an gcóras faisnéise. Beidh sé freagrach, ach go háirithe, as na bearta slándála dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 25 i leith trealaimh phróiseála sonraí arna úsáid ar chríoch an Bhallstáit i gceist, as an athbhreithniú i gcomhréir le hAirteagal 21 agus, a mhéad is gá faoi fhorálacha reachtaíochta, rialúcháin agus riaracháin agus nósanna imeachta an Bhallstáit sin, as cur chun feidhme cuí an Choinbhinsiúin seo thairis sin.

Ní fhéadfar an córas faisnéise a úsáid ach amháin chun sonraí a stóráil, a bhunathrú agus a úsáid is gá d'Europol chun a fheidhmeanna a chomhall amach ó shonraí ar chionta coiriúla gaolmhara dá dtagraítear sa dara fomhír d'Airteagal 2(3). Na sonraí a chuirtear ann, bainfidh siad le:

Ní fhéadfar ach an fhaisnéis seo a leanas a chur sna sonraí pearsanta dá dtagraítear i mír 1:

I dteannta leis na sonraí dá dtagraítear i mír 2 agus an tagairt d'Europol nó don aonad náisiúnta ionchuir, féadfar an córas faisnéise a úsáid chun na sonraí breise seo a leanas maidir leis na daoine dá dtagraítear i mír 1 a stóráil, a bhunathrú agus a úsáid:

Féadfar an fhaisnéis bhreise maidir leis na cineálacha daoine dá dtagraítear i mír 1 agus atá arna coinneáil ag Europol nó ag na haonaid náisiúnta a pháirtiú arna iarraidh sin d'aon aonad náisiúnta n d'Europol. Déanfaidh na haonaid náisiúnta an páirtiú sin i gcomhréir lena ndlí náisiúnta.

Má dhéantar na himeachtaí i gcoinne an duine i dtrácht a scor nó má dhéantar é a éigiontú, déanfar na sonraí a bhaineann le ceachtar den dá chinneadh sin a scriosadh.

Is iad na haonaid náisiúnta, na hoifigigh liaison, agus an Stiúrthóir, na Leas-Stiúrthóirí agus oifigigh chuí-údaraithe Europol amháin a bheidh i dteideal sonraí a ionchur go díreach sa chóras faisnéise agus iad a aisghabháil as. Féadfar sonraí a aisghabháil nuair is gá sin chun feidhmeanna Europol a chomhlíonadh i gcás áirithe; déanfar an aisghabháil i gcomhréir le forálacha reachtaíochta, rialúcháin agus riaracháin agus nósanna imeachta an aonaid aisghabhála, faoi réir aon rialacha breise atá sa Choinbhinsiún seo.

Ní fhéadfaidh ach an t-aonad a rinne na sonraí a iontráil iad a leasú, a cheartú nó a scriosadh. Nuair atá cúis ag aonad lena chreidiúint go bhfuil sonraí dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 8(2) mícheart nó más mian leis iad a fhorlíonadh, cuirfidh sé an t-aonad ionchuir ar an eolas láithreach; scrúdóidh an déanach an fógra sin gan mhoill agus, más gá, déanfaidh sé na sonraí a leasú, a fhorlíonadh, a cheartú nó a scriosadh láithreach. Nuair atá sonraí dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 8(3) stóráilte sa chóras maidir le duine, féadfaidh aon aonad sonraí breise dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 8(3) a iontráil. Nuair atá comhbhréagnú follasach idir na sonraí a ionchuireadh, rachaidh na haonaid i dtrácht i gcomhairle le chéile agus tiocfaidh siad ar comhaontú. Nuair atá sé ar intinn ag aonad sonraí dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 8(2) a d'ionchuir sé maidir le duine a scriosadh ar fad agus go bhfuil sonraí dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 8(3) stóráilte maidir leis an duine céanna ach gur aonaid eile a d'ionchuir iad, déanfar an fhreagracht faoi réir reachtaíochta maidir le cosaint sonrai de bhun Airteagal 15(1) agus an ceart chun na sonraí sin a leasú, a fhorlíonadh, a cheartú agus a scriosadh de bhun Airteagal 8(2) a aistriú chuig an gcéad aonad eile a d'ionchuir sonraí dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 8(3) maidir leis an duine sin. Cuirfidh an t-aonad a bhfuil sé ar intinn aige sonraí a scriosadh an t-aonad chuig a ndéanfar an fhreagracht a aistriú maidir le cosaint sonraí a chur ar an eolas faoina intinn.

Is é an t-aonad aisghabhála, ionchuir nó bunathraithe a bheidh freagrach as incheadaitheacht sonraí a aisghabháil ón gcóras faisnéise, iad a ionchur ann agus iad a bhunathrú; ní foláir gur féidir an t-aonad sin a aithint. Beidh páirtiú faisnéise idir na haonaid náisiúnta agus na húdaráis inniúla sna Ballstáit faoi rialú ag an dlí náisiúnta.

A mhéad is gá sin chun an cuspóir atá leagtha síos in Airteagal 2(1) a ghnóthú, féadfaidh Europol, i dteannta le sonraí neamhphearsanta, sonraí a stóráil, a bhunathrú agus a úsáid i gcomhaid eile ar sonraí iad atá bainteach le cionta coiriúla a bhfuil Europol inniúil ina leith i gcomhréir le hAirteagal 2(2) lena n-áirítear na sonraí atá bainteach le cionta coiriúla gaolmhara dá bhforáiltear sa dara fomhír d'Airteagal 2(3), le haghaidh anailís shonrach, agus a bhaineann le:

Osclófar na comhaid sin chun críocha anailíse; sainítear an anailís mar a leanas: sonraí a bhailiú, a phróiseáil nó a úsáid ar mhaithe leis an imscrúdú coiriúil. Ní mór grúpa anailíse a chur ar bun do gach tionscadal anailíse a bhfuil dlúthbhaint ag na rannpháirtithe seo a leanas leis, i gcomhréir leis na feidhmeanna agus na cúraimí atá sainithe in Airteagal 3(1) agus (2) agus Airteagal 5(3):

Arna iarraidh sin d'Europol nó ar a dtionscnamh féin, páirteoidh na haonaid náisiúnta gach faisnéis is gá le hEuropol, faoi réir Airteagal 4(5), chun a fheidhmeanna de bhun phointe 2 d'Airteagal 3(1) a chomhall. Ní pháirteoidh na Ballstáit na sonraí sin ach amháin nuair is féidir iad a phróiseáil faoina ndlí náisiúnta chun cionta coiriúla a chosc, a anailísiú nó a chomhrac.

Má tá gá le faisnéis de bhreis ar na sonraí dá dtagraítear i mír 3 thuas chun feidhmeanna Europol de bhun phointe 2 d'Airteagal 3(1) a chomhall, féadfaidh Europol a iarraidh ar:

A mhéad atá Europol i dteideal faoi choinbhinsiúin eile rochtain ríomhairithe a fháil ar shonraí as córais faisnéise eile, féadfaidh sé sonraí pearsanta a aisghabháil trí na meáin sin más gá sin chun a fheidhmeanna de bhun phointe 2 d'Airteagal 3(1) a chomhall.

Más anailís ghinearálta straitéiseach an anailís, beidh na Ballstáit uile, trí mheán na n-oifigeach liaison agus/nó saineolaithe, comhlachaithe go hiomlán leis na torthaí, go háirithe trí na tuarascálacha arna dtarraingt suas ag Europol a pháirtiú.

Cuirfidh na hoifigigh liaison údaraithe in iúl an riachtanas seo fios a bheith acu. Déanfaidh gach Ballstát líon teoranta oifigeach liaison a ainmniú agus a údarú chuige sin. Seolfaidh sé an liosta chuig an mBord Bainistíochta.

Is é an Ballstát amháin a pháirtíonn sonra le hEuropol a bheidh i dteideal cineál agus athraitheacht a íogaireachta a shocrú. Beidh leathadh nó úsáid oibríochtúil sonraí anailíse faoi réir comhchomhairle ag na rannpháirtithe san anailís. Ní fhéadfaidh Ballstát a fhaigh eann rochtain ar anailís reatha na sonraí a leathadh ná a úsáid gan comhaontú a fháil roimh ré ó na Ballstáit i dtrácht i dtosach báire.

Cruthóidh Europol córas innéacs de na sonraí atá stóráilte sna comhaid dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 10(1).

Beidh sé de cheart ag Stiúrthóir, Leas-Stiúrthóirí, oifigigh chuíúdaraithe Europol agus oifigigh liaison an córas innéacs a cheadú. Caithfidh an córas innéacs a bheith de chineál gur léir don oifigeach liaison a cheadaíonn é, ar bhonn na sonraí arna gceadú, go bhfuil sonraí a bhaineann lena Bhallstát tionscnaimh sna comhaid dá dtagraítear i bpointe 2 d'Airteagal 6(1) agus in Airteagail 10(1).

Cinnfidh an Bord Bainistíochta, ag gníomhú do d'aon toil, na rialacha mionsonraithe maidir leis an gcóras innéacs a dhearadh.

Le haghaidh gach comhad ríomhairithe sonraí ina bhfuil sonraí pearsanta arna oibriú ag Europol chun a fheidhmeanna dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 10 a chomhall, sonróidh Europol in ordú ag oscailt an chomhaid, a mbeidh formheas an Bhord Bainistíochta riachtanach dó:

Má tá práinn an chúraim atá le comhlíonadh de chineál nach féidir formheas an Bhord Bainistíochta a fháil dá bhforáiltear i mír 1, féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir a chinneadh ar a thionscnamh féin nó arna iarraidh sin do na Ballstáit i dtrácht ordú a thabhairt trí chinneadh réasúnaithe, comhad a oscailt. Cuirfidh sé comhaltaí an Bhord Bainistíochta ar an eolas san am céanna. Leanfar láithreach an nós imeachta de bhun mhír 1 thuas agus críochnófar é a luaithe is féidir.

Faoi thráth theacht i bhfeidhm an Choinbhinsiúin seo ar a dhéanaí, glacfaidh gach Ballstát faoina reachtaíocht náisiúnta na bearta is gá i ndáil le próiseáil sonraí pearsanta i gcomhaid sonraí faoi chuimsiú an Choinbhinsiúin seo chun caighdeán cosanta sonraí a áirithiú a fhreagraíonn ar a laghad don chaighdeán a thig ó chur chun feidhme phrionsabail Choinbhinsiún Chomhairle na hEorpa an 28 Eanáir 1981 agus, lena linn sin, tabharfaidh sé aird ar Mholadh Uimh. R(87) 15 ó Choiste Airí Chomhairle na hEorpa an 17 Meán Fómhair 1987 maidir le húsáid sonraí pearsanta san earnáil phóilíneachta.

Ní fhéadfaidh páirtiú sonraí pearsanta dá bhforáiltear sa Choinbhinsiún seo a thosú go dtí go dtiocfaidh na rialacha dá bhforáiltear i mír 1 maidir le cosaint sonraí i bhfeidhm ar chríoch gach Ballstáit a bheidh i dtreis i bpáirtiú den sórt sin.

Agus sonraí pearsanta á mbailiú, á bpróiseáil agus á n-úsáid aige, tabharfaidh Europol aird ar phrionsabail Choinbhinsiún Chomhairle na hEorpa an 28 Eanáir 1981 agus ar Mholadh Uimh. R(87) 15 ó Choiste Airí Chomhairle na hEorpa an 17 Meán Fómhair 1987.

Faoi réir forálacha eile sa Choinbhinsiún seo, is iad a bheidh freagrach as na sonraí atá stóráilte ag Europol, go háirithe maidir le dlíthiúlacht a mbailiú agus a seoladh go hEuropol agus as a n-ionchur, a mbeachtas, iad a bheith suas chun dáta, agus fíorú ré na stórála:

Ina theannta sin, faoi réir forálacha eile sa Choinbhinsiún seo, beidh Europol freagrach as na sonraí uile a thagann chuige agus a phróiseálann sé, bíodh siad sa chóras faisnéise dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 8, sna comhaid sonraí arna n-oscailt le haghaidh anailíse dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 10 nó sa chóras innéacs dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 11, nó sna comhaid sonraí atá luaite in Airteagal 14(3).

Déanfaidh Europol sonraí a stóráil ar chaoi gur féidir a shuíomh cén Ballstát nó cén tríú páirtí a sheol na sonraí nó an bhfuarthas iad de bharr anailíse ag Europol.

Ní ceart sonraí pearsanta arna n-aisghabháil ón gcóras faisnéise, ón gcóras innéacs nó ó na comhaid sonraí eile arna n-oscailt le haghaidh anailíse, agus sonraí arna bpáirtiú ar aon mhodh iomchuí eile a tharchur ná a úsáid ach ag údaráis inniúla na mBallstát chun an choirpeacht a bhfuil Europol inniúil ina leith agus chun saghsanna eile tromchúiseacha coirpeachta a chosc nó a chomhrac.

I gcás sonraí áirithe, má leagann Ballstát a bpáirtithe nó tríú Stát nó tríú comhlacht a bpáirtithe dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 10(4) srianta speisialta síos leis an úsáid a bhfuil na sonraí sin faoina réir sa Bhallstát sin nó ag tríú páirtí, urramóidh úsáidire na sonraí na srianta sin freisin, amach ón gcás leithleach inar gá dó faoin dlí náisiúnta, na srianta ar úsáid a mhaolú ar mhaithe leis na húdaráis bhreithiúnacha, na hinstitiúidí reachtacha nó aon chomhlacht neamhspleách eile arna bhunú ag an dlí agus a bhfuil sé de chúram air na húdaráis náisiúnta inniúla de réir bhrí Airteagal 2(4) den Choinbhinsiún seo a rialú. Sa chás sin, ní fhéadfar na sonraí a úsáid sula rachfar i gcomhairle le Stát a bpáirtithe a dtógfar aird ar a leasanna agus a dhearcadh a mhéad is féidir.