The growth in transnational crime in Europe and the EU's efforts to counter organised crime are examined in a book launched yesterday by the Institute for European Affairs in Dublin.
The book, The New Third Pillar; Co-operation Against Crime in [R O] the European Union, includes contributions by Deputy Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy, who has charge of Garda anti-crime operations; former minister for justice Mrs Nora Owen; and Judge Paul Harney.
Detailing the emergence of "trans-border" crime since the removal of interior border checks, Prof Finbar McAuley, of UCD, argues that the rising tide of transnational crime in the EU is, to an extent, being generated by the process of integration. He also says that the fight against transnational crime is being impeded by the nation-states adhering to their own criminal law systems.
Mr Conroy outlines the increasing level of co-operation between EU police forces through organisations such as Europol, the police liaison agency based in The Hague.
Launching the book, the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said he hoped its publication would further debate on this very important area of EU co-operation in criminal and judicial matters.