EU-US SUMMIT
The White House
Washington, DC
June 25, 2003
Statement
by the Hellenic Minister of Justice Philippos Petsalnikos, President of
the EU
Justice & Home Affairs Council, During the Signing of the EU/US
Agreements on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance
Mr.
Attorney General
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The
signing of the agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance
between the United States of America and the European Union is a
significant event in the history of the Euro-American relations.
With
these agreements, the United States
and the European Union confirm their will to efficiently fight crime and,
in particular, transnational organized crime. We confirm this in the most
institutional and official way.
Organized crime is an immediate danger for our societies. It threatens our
common values. And we deal with it as such.
The
texts that we have in front of us are the outcome of a long and continuous
negotiation process which started immediately after the heinous terrorist
attack of
September 11, 2001.
On
the part of the European Union, three presidencies (the Belgian, the
Spanish and the Danish) worked to reach the successful outcome of the
discussions under the
Greek Presidency. This outcome has been approved
unanimously by the member states of the European Union.
I
would like to thank the members of the negotiating teams of the European
Union (including, of course, the Secretariat of the Council and the
European Commission) and of the United States for their contribution in
the final outcome.
Mr.
Attorney General, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Concluding my short statement, I would like to share with you my
assessment for these agreements:
Their provisions reflect the mutual trust and the lessons of the
experience, which we gained from the fight against crime.
Organized crime has become transnational. The duty of the international
community is to fight it. We, the United States
and the United Europe are partners. Traditional partners in almost the
entirety of the activities of the international community. We cooperate in
many areas. The agreements upgrade this cooperation.
Thank you.
