VICE-PRESIDENT FRANCO FRATTINI
Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security

Inauguration of Mr Ratzel as director of Europol

Inauguration of Mr Ratzel as director of Europol
The Hague, May 24 2005

Ladies and gentlemen, let me start with congratulating Max Peter Ratzel with his appointment as Director of Europol, and thanking Mr Simancas for the long interim period in which he ensured the continuity of Europol in a very professional way.

There lies quite a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of Mr Raztel and his team. Not only because we have clear political commitments in the new multi-annual work programme in the area of freedom, security and justice which was named after the beautiful city in which we find ourselves today- the "The Hague Programme", and not only because of legal obligations in the current Treaty as well as in the Constitutional Treaty.

First and foremost however, we have expectations from our very own EU citizens to fulfil. "Eurobarometers" and other polls continue to indicate that if there is one policy area in which EU citizens, throughout the 25 Member States, are in favour of a common, an EU, approach, than it is that of combating organised crime and terrorism.

Indeed EU citizens understand perfectly well that terrorism and organised crime is getting better and better organised and that such criminals do not confine their criminal activities to certain artificial geographical borders- they operate increasingly on a trans-national level, making use of the free circulation of persons, goods, services and capital and the abolition of internal border controls in the Schengen area of an enlarged EU.

It is therefore, quite rightly, our citizens expectation that the prevention of and the fight against such cross-border organised crime can no longer be tackled merely at the national level, but instead can only be addressed effectively with a cross-border, common EU approach: indeed this is an area in which Europe not only can but should make the difference!

Common legislation is an important step towards such a common approach on the prevention of and the fight against crime, but it is not sufficient. Close cooperation and coordination among law enforcement services of all Member States is first and foremost what is needed, and it is in this context that Europol plays such an important, even indispensable, role in protecting citizens from criminal threats. These threats put at stake both citizens' individual liberties, the open and democratic society and the rule of law.

Indeed, the dreadful Madrid attack of March 2004 taught us, as Europeans, two important lessons: we can no longer be only consumers of security but should also be producers of such security! The second lesson is this: there can be no freedom without security, but no security without justice either!

Let me finish with two reflections: In the country in which Europol is based, the Netherlands, a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty will be organised, as you know next week Wednesday 1 June. I want to pass two messages to the Dutch citizens: the first one is this: your country, one of the very founding fathers of the EU, and even this very city, The Hague, is host to three key institutions: the International Court of Justice as well as two EU bodies, Europol and Eurojust.

This, I feel, reflects well the fact that the Netherlands has always been willing to play an important and constructive role in the international community; it also reflects the strong support Dutch citizens have always given to the European integration process and the importance they attach to the issue of security.

My message to you is this: the size of a country has really nothing to do with the richness of the contribution it provides to making the EU a better, safer, more secure place, fully respectful however of fundamental rights and freedoms: be proud of what your country has so far contributed to that process, but more importantly, we, the EU, count on you, need you, to continue doing so.

My second message to the Dutch citizens is this: I am aware of feelings of uncertainty or even unease some Dutch have as regards the Constitutional Treaty; some fear that the Treaty will further the distance between EU politics, between "Brussels" and the EU citizens: these are understandable concerns to which we should listen carefully. As EU decision takers we should aim at much better communicating, in a transparent, non-bureaucratic way, to the EU citizens where the added value of the EU lies, and where it contributes to making their daily life easier and more secure.

I am convinced however that Dutch citizens will agree with me that actions at European level, in particularly in the areas of freedom, security and justice, will bring Europe closer to its people rather than the opposite.

It is precisely in these areas where, with the Constitutional Treaty, we can make much progress. Decision taking in a EU of 25 Member States will become more efficient, whilst the role of national parliaments will be greatly strengthened, this in view of respecting fully the principle that actions should only be taken at European level if they provide added value.

This is well reflected in the Constitutional Treaty's provisions on Europol: they provide for scrutiny of Europol's activities by the European Parliament, with the involvement of national parliaments. The future legal basis of Europol will be a European law adopted through co-decision, with the Council acting by qualified majority. Furthermore Europol's activities must comply with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and are subject to judicial review by the Court of Justice. All of this will greatly enhance the democratic and legal accountability of Europol and the effectiveness of its activities.

Mr Raztel, may I conclude by wishing you and your team all the best in undertaking the difficult but crucial task Europol has to perform in the years to come, and in meeting the expectations of our citizens . You can count on me and the Commission to assist you in meeting those challenges .