Brussels, 28 January 2002
The Spanish Presidency has proposed the creation of an Alert and technological research centre at the Europol headquarters to assist in the EU's fight against drugs trafficking.
The call came at a conference on the use of new technologies in relation to drugs trafficking, held in Madrid on 24 January. The conference was attended by representatives from 13 EU Member States, as well as three candidate countries: Latvia, Romania and Slovenia, the USA, the European Commission and Europol.
The proposal involves the setting up of a forum for discussion and exchange of experience in order to examine the weaknesses of the current arrangements for observing and investigating the scientific aspect of criminal activity.
The conference covered European strategies for pressing ahead with the information society as well as related regulatory issues, aspects of money laundering involving electronic means, presentations of techniques for police interception of information and communications technologies and the problem of anonymous use of prepaid telephone cards.
Other conference conclusions include an agreement on voluntary collaboration between national authorities, operators and players in the telecommunications sector, and the possible monitoring of prepaid telephone card users.
For further information, please consult the following web address: http://www.ue2002.es/
For further information on the Spanish Presidency, please consult the following web address: http://www.cordis.lu/spain