Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2023)97 - Authorisation to negotiate an agreement with Ecuador on the exchange of personal data between the Europol and Ecuadorian authorities for fighting serious crime and terrorism - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2023)97 - Authorisation to negotiate an agreement with Ecuador on the exchange of personal data between the Europol and Ecuadorian ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2023)97  |
| date | 22-02-2023 |
1. PURPOSE
The EU should open negotiations with the Republic of Ecuador with the purpose of signing and concluding an Agreement enabling the exchange of personal data between Europol and the Ecuadorian authorities competent for fighting serious crime and terrorism.
2. CONTEXT OF THE RECOMMENDATION
In the globalised world where serious crime and terrorism are increasingly transnational and polyvalent, law enforcement authorities should be fully equipped to cooperate with external partners to ensure the security of their citizens. In line with the EU Security Union Strategy 1 , Europol can play a key role in expanding cooperation with third countries to counter crime and terrorism in coherence with other EU external policies and tools. The April 2021 EU Strategy to tackle Organised Crime highlights an urgent need to further develop Europol’s serious and organised crime intelligence and to enhance information exchange and investigative actions with (additional) third countries and regions constituting major hubs for high-risk organised crime affecting EU Member States 2 .
For Europol, cooperation with third countries and international organisations is essential to support Member States in countering serious crime and terrorism. The need to strengthen the cooperation with third countries is even more important in light of the Serious and Organised Threat Assessment 2021 prepared by Europol. As an example, the main findings of this threat assessment recognises that Latin America criminal networks will continue to cooperate with organised criminal groups based in the European Union to traffic drugs.
In so far as necessary for the performance of its tasks, Europol may establish and maintain cooperative relations with international partners through working and administrative arrangements, which however do not by themselves provide a legal basis for the exchange of personal data. Unlike an international agreement, those arrangements are concluded by Europol and they do not bind the EU or its Member States 3 .
Regulation 2016/794 4 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 changed the legal framework for the exchange of personal data between Europol and third countries. Since the entry into force of this Regulation on 1 May 2017, the competence to conclude international agreements between Europol and third countries has been transferred to the Union acting pursuant to Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 5 . Following a proposal from the Commission, the Council has already adopted nine negotiation authorisations with third countries 6 and an authorisation to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with Interpol that also covers the exchange of personal data with Europol 7 . The first Agreement was recently signed with New Zealand 8 .
While this Recommendation specifically concerns negotiations with Ecuador, it should be seen as part of a broader effort to enhance law enforcement cooperation between the EU and Latin American countries of interest. In that regard, the European Commission is recommending in parallel to open negotiations for similar international agreements with Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico and Peru, with the ultimate aim to enhance the fight against terrorism and serious crime.
3. OBJECTIVES OF THE RECOMMENDATION
Latin American’s organised crime groups pose a serious threat to the EU internal security as their actions are increasingly linked to a series of crimes within the Union, particularly in the realm of drug trafficking. The 2021 EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) highlights that unprecedented quantities of illicit drugs are trafficked to the EU from Latin America, generating multi-billion-euro profits, which are used to finance a diverse range of criminal organisations (international and EU-based) and to weaken the rule of law in the EU 9 .
Recent reports confirm that cocaine availability in Europe is at an all-time high and the drug is more affordable and accessible for consumers than in the past 10 . Most of the product seized in the EU is transported by sea, primarily in maritime shipping containers 11 , and shipped to the EU directly from the countries of production as well as from neighbouring countries of departure in Latin America, including the Republic of Ecuador 12 . Based on quantities of cocaine seized in European ports and in ports elsewhere destined for Europe, Ecuador (with a cocaine seizure of about 67.5 tonnes) was one of the main departure points in 2020, as it has been for some years 13 . An example of the evolution of the Republic of Ecuador in drug trafficking is the increase in the quantities shipped from Guayaquil, the largest container port in Ecuador, towards Antwerp, Belgium, using the rip-on/rip-off method, from 6 tonnes in 2018 to almost 56 tonnes in 2021 14 . Organised crime organisations based in Latin America are well established and also active in other crime areas that fall within Europol’s mandate, such as cybercrimes, money laundering, and environmental crimes.
In its Programming Document 2022-2024, Europol has flagged that, among others, the growing demand for drugs and increased drug trafficking routes into the EU justify the need for enhanced cooperation with Latin American countries 15 . In this sense, in December 2022, the Republic of Ecuador was included in Europol’s list of priority partners with which the agency may conclude Working Arrangements.
Ecuador is participating in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism on Drugs. Moreover, the Republic of Ecuador is member of the Police Community of the Americas (Ameripol) and of the Latin American Interior Security Committee (CLASI) 16 , which has been established in 2022 and driven by the Europe Latin America Programme of Assistance against Transnational Organised Crime (El PAcCTO) 17 . The country is also a member of CLASI’s dedicated task force on drugs and thus has been committed to contributing to the dismantling of organised crime groups involved in drug production and trafficking. In fact, Ecuador has been identified as a key international partner to reduce the global supply of cocaine by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) 18 .
Increased operational cooperation and the sharing of relevant information between Europol and the Republic of Ecuador would be important in countering serious offences in many crime areas of common interest, such as drug trafficking and environmental crimes. Due to the lack of a valid legal basis under Union law, however, Ecuadorian law enforcement authorities competent for fighting serious crime and terrorism cannot receive any personal data from Europol. This represents thus a hindrance for further developing the cooperation between both parties.
For these reasons and taking into account the EU’s political strategy as outlined in the EU Security Union Strategy 19 , the EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 20 , and the EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025 21 , the Commission considers it necessary to add Ecuador as a priority country to start negotiations on an agreement enabling the exchange of personal data between Europol and the Ecuadorian competent authorities in the short term.
4. LEGAL ELEMENTS
Regulation (EU) 2016/794 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) sets out a legal framework for Europol, in particular its objectives, tasks, scope of competence, data protection safeguards and ways to cooperate with external partners.
This Recommendation is consistent with the provisions of the Europol Regulation.
The objective of this recommendation is to obtain from the Council the authorisation for the Commission to negotiate an international agreement on behalf of the EU. The legal basis for the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations is Article 218(3) and i TFEU.
In line with Article 218 TFEU, the Commission shall be authorised to negotiate on behalf of the EU an Agreement with the Republic of Ecuador on the exchange of personal data between the Europol and the Ecuadorian competent authorities competent for fighting serious crime and terrorism.
The Union has already exercised its competence in this field and has established rules in this respect by adopting a framework of rules regulating Europol activities, including on processing personal data.
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of negotiations for an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Ecuador on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Ecuadorian authorities competent for fighting serious crime and terrorism
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and in particular Article 218(3) and i thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission,
Whereas:
Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council was adopted on 11 May 2016 and is applicable as of 1 May 2017 22 . It was amended by Regulation 2022/991 of 27 June 2022 23 .
The provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/794, in particular those concerning the transfer of personal data from the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) to third countries and international organisations, provide that Europol may transfer personal data to an authority of a third country on the basis of an international agreement concluded between the Union and that third country pursuant to Article 218 TFEU adducing adequate safeguards with respect to the protection of privacy and fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.
Negotiations should be opened with a view to concluding an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Ecuador on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Ecuadorian authorities competent for fighting serious crime and terrorism (the ‘Agreement’).
As also recalled in Recital 35 of Regulation (EU) 2016/794, the Commission should be able to consult the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) also during the negotiations of the Agreement and, in any event, before the Agreement is concluded.
The Agreement should respect the fundamental rights and observe the principles recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular the right to private and family life, recognised in Article 7 of the Charter, the right to the protection of personal data, recognised in Article 8 of the Charter and the right to effective remedy and fair trial recognised by Article 47 of the Charter. The Agreement should be applied in accordance with those rights and principles.
The Agreement should not affect, and should be without prejudice to, the transfer of personal data or other forms of cooperation between the authorities responsible for safeguarding national security.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
The Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate, on behalf of the Union, an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Ecuador on the exchange of personal data between the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the Ecuadorian authorities competent for fighting serious crime and terrorism.
The negotiating directives are set out in the Annex.
The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the relevant [name of the special committee to be inserted by the Council].
This Decision is addressed to the Commission.
Done at Brussels,
The President
(1) COM(2020) 605 final (24.7.2020), p. 21.
(2) COM(2021) 170 final (14.4.2021), p. 9.
(3) See Article 23 i of Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and replacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA (OJ L 135, 24.5.2016, p. 53-144), hereinafter referred to as ‘Regulation (EU) 2016/794’.
(4) See Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2016/794.
(5) See Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/794, allowing as for the transfer of personal data on the basis of international agreement concluded between EU and the third country or international organisation.
(6) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, and New Zealand.
(7) Council Decision (EU) 1312/21 of 19 July 2021, p. 2–5.
(8) Council Decision (EU) 9954/22 of 14 June 2022.
(9) European Union Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment: A corrupt Influence: The infiltration and undermining of Europe’s economy and society by organised crime.
(10) EU Drug Market: Cocaine, available at EU Drug Market: Cocaine www.emcdda.europa.eu">www.emcdda.europa.eu .
(11) Europol and the global cocaine trade, available at www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/eu-drug-markets">https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/eu-drug-markets .
(12) Europol and the global cocaine trade, available at www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/eu-drug-markets">https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/eu-drug-markets .
(13) EU Drug Market: Cocaine p. 24, available at EU Drug Market: Cocaine www.emcdda.europa.eu">www.emcdda.europa.eu .
(14) EU Drug Market: Cocaine p. 39, available at EU Drug Market: Cocaine | www.emcdda.europa.eu">www.emcdda.europa.eu .
(15) Europol Programming Document 2022-2024, p. 150.
(16) CLASI is an agency for political and technical dialogue between lead partners for security policies in Latin American countries, and is very specifically and operationally orientated.
(17) The CLASI and its political, strategic and operational implications, 2 March 2022, available at www.elpaccto.eu/en">The CLASI and its political, strategic and operational implications - EL PAcCTO .
(18) EU Drug Market: Cocaine, available at EU Drug Market: Cocaine www.emcdda.europa.eu">www.emcdda.europa.eu .
(19) COM(2020) 605 final, 24 July 2020.
(20) Council Document (EU) 14178/20 of 18 December 2020.
(21) Official Journal of the European Union C 272/02, 8 July 2021.
(22) Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and replacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA (OJ L 135, 24.5.2016, p. 53-144).
(23) Regulation (EU) 2022/991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794, as regards Europol’s cooperation with private parties, the processing of personal data by Europol in support of criminal investigations, and Europol’s role in research and innovation (OJ L 169, 27.6.2022, p. 1–42).