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Strengthening cross-border law enforcement cooperation in the EU: the Prüm network of data exchange

DOI:10.1007/s10610-017-9355-0
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Oriola Sallavaci at University of Essex
Oriola Sallavaci
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Abstract

The Prüm network was established to provide mechanisms and the infrastructure to achieve a closer cooperation between the EU member states in combating terrorism, organised crime and illegal immigration through the cross border exchange of DNA profiles, fingerprints and vehicle registration data. While Prüm offers clear benefits for cross-border policing, it continues to present challenges of a technical and scientific nature as well as legal, ethical and socioeconomic concerns. This article reviews these challenges as well as the existing safeguards. It argues that, in order to achieve Prüm benefits and maximise its potential, it is important to enhance the necessary dialogue and cooperation between member states so as to confront the above concerns and address challenges posed by Prüm through balanced measures.
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Strengthening cross-border law enforcement cooperation
in the EU: the Prüm network of data exchange
Oriola Sallavaci
1
Published online: 11 August 2017
#Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2017
Abstract The Prüm network was established to provide mechanisms and the infrastructure to
achieve a closer cooperation between the EU member states in combating terrorism, organised
crime and illegal immigration through the cross border exchange of DNA profiles, fingerprints
and vehicle registration data. While Prüm offers clear benefits for cross-border policing, it
continues to present challenges of a technical and scientific nature as well as legal, ethical and
socioeconomic concerns. This article reviews these challenges as well as the existing safe-
guards. It argues that, in order to achieve Prüm benefits and maximise its potential, it is
important to enhance the necessary dialogue and cooperation between member states so as to
confront the above concerns and address challenges posed by Prüm through balanced
measures.
Keywords Cross border crim e .Cross borde r data exchange .EU criminal justice.Prüm network
.Transnational policing .DNA .Fingerprints .Vehicle registration data
Introduction
During the past decades, the EU member states have increased their efforts in the fight against
terrorism, organised crime and illegal immigration. Increasingly, terrorism and other serious
crime have developed a cross border dimension, which is accentuated by the dismantling of
internal border controls within the Schengen free movement area and ease of travel and
communication within the EU and beyond. Recent terrorist attacks in Europe have demon-
strated that the need for closer transnational cooperation to prevent atrocities and to achieve a
swift and efficient law enforcement response is paramount. In the wider context of transna-
tional cooperation, information exchanges between law enforcement authorities are essential in
fighting cross border crime and to ensure a high level of security in the EU.
Eur J Crim Policy Res (2018) 24:219–235
DOI 10.1007/s10610-017-9355-0
*Oriola Sallavaci
Oriola.Sallavaci@anglia.ac.uk
1
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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European Commission Directorate-General Migration and Home Affairs (2015) ‘Study on the implementation of the European Information Exchange Model (EIXM) for strengthening law enforcement cooperation
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“Complex, technologically fraught and expensive” - the problematic implementation of the Prüm Decision
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Jones, C. (2012) 'BComplex, technologically fraught and expensive^-the problematic implementation of the Prüm Decision' Statewatch analysis available at http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/no-197-prumimplementation.pdf accessed 09.02.2017.