EU and U.S. Progress Towards Counter-Terrorism Enforcement Cooperation

On September 14, 2002, the Danish Minister of Justice Lene Espersen on behalf of European Union?s Justice and Home Affairs Council announced progress with respect to discussions with the United States concerning a broad range of counter-terrorism enforcement cooperation after a meeting with U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. Espersen predicted an agreement between the European Police Unit, Europol, and the U.S. providing for the exchange of personal data is expected to be concluded before the end of the year. Additionally, the European Prosecution Unit, Eurojust, and the relevant U.S. authorities, should as a matter of priority start negotiations on similar cooperation agreements. Despite the positive spin placed by the Epperson announcement, the EU and the U.S. have been negotiating since the fall a counter-terrorism pact. Disagreements over issues such as fundamental rights of defendants have delayed the conclusion of an agreement.