Co-opertation agreement between the European Monitoring Centre For Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the International Criminal Police Organization-Interpol

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The purpose of this Co-operation Agreement is to enhance the co-operation between Interpol and the EMCDDA in consistency with Article 12 of the Council Regulation setting up the EMCDDA (EEC Regulation 302/93 of 8th February 1993: OJ No L 36/1-8; 12.3.93).

Co-operation between the two bodies shall be based on the principles of appropriateness, reciprocity and work sharing based on complementarity.

In accordance with its Constitution, Interpol is responsible for providing and developing the widest possible mutual assistance between all the criminal police authorities within the limits of the laws existing in the different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to establish and develop all institutions likely to contribute effectively to the prevention and suppression of ordinary law crimes.

The EMCDDA's overall task is to produce objective, reliable and comparable information at European level concerning drugs and drug addiction and their consequences and to help provide the European Community and its Member States with an overall view of the drug and drug addiction situation when, in their respective areas of competence, they take measures or decide on action (Article 1 of the EEC Regulation).

Objectives

Interpol and the EMCDDA shall co-operate to improve the collection and analysis of data, to develop and promote data comparison methods and to intensify the dissemination of information. They shall also co-ordinate their efforts to achieve the best use of available information, to enhance their respective reports and to ensure the most effective utilization of their resources to this end.

They shall seek to develop synergy by concentration in the planning and co-ordination in the implementation of their specific activities and shall keep each other informed of matters of common interest for the purpose of achieving their respective objectives.

Subject to such restrictions and arrangements as may be considered necessary by Interpol or the EMCDDA to preserve the confidential nature of certain information and documents, full and prompt exchange of information and documents concerning matters of common interest shall be made between them.

Both Organizations convene, while implementing this Co-operation Agreement, to fully take into account and ensure respect to provisions of Article 6, paragraph 1 of Council Regulation 302/93 of 8th February 1993 on the establishment of a European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction as well as Interpol's rules concerning data protection.

Interpol and the EMCDDA may seek the other's technical expertise and co-operation in the interest of their respective activities and may conclude, as required, specific agreements to this purpose, including the creation of joint projects.

The EMCDDA and Interpol shall exchange views, when appropriate, on policy issues within their respective competence and consult regularly on matters of common interest with a view to achieving their objectives and co-ordinating their positions and activities. When appropriate, they will also hold consultations on the most effective way of organizing particular activities of common interest related to their respective mandates and on the optimum use of their resources in connection with such activities.

To this end, Interpol and the EMCDDA will each designate a member of their staff for their maintenance of close, direct and continuing contacts with a view to ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the present Co-operation Agreement.

Within their legal framework, the Parties shall invite each other to attend institutional and technical meetings convened under their respective auspices and which consider matters in which the other Party has an interest or technical competence. They shall ensure the timely exchange of information on meeting programmes to facilitate the expression of such interest.

Work Programmes

Co-operation between Interpol and the EMCDDA at the strategic level shall be undertaken with reference to each Party's work programme.

The implementation of specific work projects shall be subject to the annual work programme of the EMCDDA approved by its policy-making body and to the periodic work programme reviews of Interpol, as well as to the availability of adequate resources to be determined for each activity by each Party in accordance with their respective relevant regulations and rules.

The work projects under which specific co-operation is to be undertaken shall be agreed upon through a special arrangement and form an integral part of this Co-operation Agreement.

The present Co-operation Agreement shall take effect upon signature by both Parties subject to its approval by the Interpol General Assembly and shall remain in force unless terminated by mutual consent or by either Party giving six months written notice of termination to the other Party.

Any dispute relating to the interpretation or application of this Co-operation Agreement shall, unless amicably settled, be subject to conciliation. In the event of failure of the latter, the dispute shall be settled by arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the modalities to be agreed upon by the parties.