The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will help combat organised and international crime in Europe to a greater extent -


Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP has today said that the " ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will help combat organised and international crime in Europe to a greater extent.

The Lisbon Treaty ensures that an EU representative responsible for foreign affairs will be appointed. This means that the European Union will be in a much stronger position to address global issues such as organised and international crime in a more structured and coherent manner into the future.

This is very important in a European context.
We live in an internal market comprising 500 million people who can travel freely between the 27 different member states of the EU. We need to work together to stop international drug importations getting into the EU.

I do welcome the fact that the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre - Narcotics programme, known by its acronym M.A.O.C-N is working well.
This initiative brings together the police, naval, intelligence, customs and revenue services from all the countries based along the West coast of Europe. All these services are now working together and sharing information so as to halt cocaine importations coming from South America and from West Africa into Europe.

Organised crime is international by nature and it requires a concerted and united international response if it is to be effectively tackled.

The fact of the matter is that the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will help the European Union become more effective in tackling international crime."

July 28th 2009.

For further information, Contact Dave Harmon at tel number :- 00-32-473-513-410.

ENDS.