Justice & Law Enforcement

Officials from the United States and Germany today initialed a bilateral agreement related to sharing access to biometric data and spontaneous sharing of data about known and suspected terrorists. At a bilateral ceremony in Berlin, Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff joined the German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries in initialing the agreement.

The agreement gives the countries mutual access to fingerprint databases for the purpose of determining if evidence in them could be helpful in criminal investigations and prosecutions. It also sets forth procedures for obtaining that evidence through lawful processes, while ensuring that personal data is appropriately protected.

The United States and Europe must work together as partners to defeat terrorist networks, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said March 7 in London, where he defended U.S. treatment of detainees while discussing the sometimes deep disagreements over how to defend against militant groups.  Gonzales also said the United States welcomes a “difficult but necessary dialogue” on how to balance human rights with protecting human lives in the struggle against terrorism. “Although these issues are complex, we must not let the consensus between the United States and Europe in fighting terrorism be weakened over differences in how we approach the fight,” he said in a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. (Full Text of Remarks) The attorney general acknowledged that groups in Europe have raised concerns about the detention center at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, and about “renditions,” the act of transporting captured militant suspects outside the United States.  “Let me be absolutely clear: The United States abhors torture and categorically rejects its use” by U.S. personnel anywhere in the world, Gonzales said.

Attorney General Gonzales, Austrian Interior Minister Prokop, and European Commissioner Frattini meet at the U.S.-EU Ministerial Troika on Justice and Home Affairs in Vienna on May 3, 2006. Photo: Council of the European Union

2008: United States and Germany Agree to Share Fingerprint Databases and Information on Known and Suspected Terrorists

2007: U.S., EU Ministerial Focuses on Terrorism, Narcotics, and Law Enforcement Ties (Dec 11, 2007) | Secretary Chertoff Discusses the Emerging Transatlantic Consensus on Security, Fighting Terrorists (Nov 29, 2007) | U.S. Mission's Murray Discusses the U.S.-European Security Relationship (Sep 20, 2007)

2006: U.S., EU Sign Eurojust Pact on Transnational Crime (Nov 11, 2006) (Press Conference Transcript) (Eurojust Press Release) | Finnish Presidency Press Release on U.S.-EU Ministerial in Washington (Nov 6, 2006) | U.S.-EU Summit Declaration (Jun 21, 2006) and 2006 U.S.-EU Summit Progress Report on Political and Security Issues | U.S. Seeks Europe's Aid in War on Terror, Justice's Gonzales Says (May 5, 2006) (Remarks) | Gonzales Defends Detainee Treatment, Seeks Dialogue with Europe (Mar 7, 2006) (Full Text of Remarks) | Amb. Gray Addresses Conference on Security, Terrorism (Feb 21, 2006) | European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini (left) and U.S. FBI Director Robert Mueller discuss law enforcement issues in Brussels on January 25, 2006. Photo: Gery JacobsFBI Head Mueller, Commission's Frattini Discuss Law Enforcement Cooperation (Jan 25, 2006)

European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini and U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller met in Brussels to discuss a range of law enforcement topics and U.S.-EU cooperation, according to a joint statement released January 25. Frattini and Mueller discussed a series of law enforcement subjects, including the EU’s proposed data protection framework, principles for access to and exchange of police data, cooperation in the fight against terrorism, operational cooperation between Europol and U.S. law enforcement agencies, assignment of an FBI agent for liaison with Europol, and joint training sessions. During his visit to Brussels, Mueller also met January 24 with EU Counterterrorism Coordinator Gijs de Vries.

EU, U.S. Hold Seminar on Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Cooperation (Jan 20, 2006) | U.S., Greece Sign Extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance Accords (Jan 18, 2006)

U.S. and European Union law enforcement and security officials have agreed on a series of practical steps to improve cooperation on counterterrorism and other issues, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says. Both sides will move to improve their exchange of threat assessments relating to terrorism and organized crime, he announced at an October 6, 2005, press conference following a U.S.-hosted meeting on counterterrorism cooperation. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, who co-hosted the meeting with Gonzales, highlighted border security progress and said the two nations plan to find a mechanism to exchange in advance required air passenger-screening data "in a way that minimizes inconvenience."

2005: U.S., EU Counterterror, Security Experts Outline Next Steps (Oct 7, 2005) | U.S., Portugal Sign Extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance Pacts (July 14, 2005) | U.S., Lithuania Sign Extradition, Legal Assistance Accords (Jun 15, 2005) | EU, U.S. Hold Seminar to Increase Understanding of Criminal Justice, Border Management Systems (Apr 5, 2005)

2004: U.S., Sweden, Finland, Belgium Sign Extradition., MLAT Accords (Dec 16, 2004) | Attorney General Ashcroft Addresses EU Justice Ministers, Sept. 30, 2004 | U.S., European Union Resolute in Opposing Terrorism (Jun 26, 2004)

The United States and the European Union signed extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements June 25, 2003, that will provide "additional tools to combat terrorism, organized crime, and other serious forms of criminality," U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said at the signing ceremony. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, "our law enforcement partners in EU member states have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us in the fight against international terrorism," Ashcroft said. "These two treaties represent only the most recent steps we have taken to strengthen our close law enforcement relationships."

2003: U.S., EU Sign Legal Assistance, Extradition Treaties (Jun 25, 2003) | U.S.- EU Counterterrorism Cooperation (Jun 25, 2003)

2001: Powell Remarks at EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (Dec 6, 2001)