Development of International Co-Operation Involving the Federal Republic of Germany in the Area of the System of Justice Concerning 'Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders' with Particular Regard to the Conditions in the Member States of the Council of Europe

• NCJ Number: 99330
• Journal: UNAFEI Resource Material Series Issue: 26 Dated: (December 1984) Pages: 9-24
• Author(s): Anonymous
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Nations
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A description of the existing framework for cooperation among European nations in criminal justice focuses particularly on the role of the Council of Europe and notes also other forms of regional and worldwide cooperation.

Abstract

Although awareness of the need for international cooperation emerged in the last century, mechanisms for cooperation have developed only recently and largely as the result of enormous technical progress and growing economic interdependence and political cooperation. At the global level, the United Nations has promoted international cooperation in research and in exchange of experience. It has also tried to generate consensus on basic views and guidelines related to criminal justice issues. A large number of conventions, resolutions, and recommendations have resulted from these efforts. However, it has taken regional bodies like the Council of Europe and the European Communities to produce more intensive and specific cooperation. Formed in 1949, the Council of Europe includes 21 nations with a total population of 385 million. Its 2 organs, the Committe of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly, are served by an international secretariat of 850 officials. The council promotes unity, an improved quality of life, and other forms of cooperation to aid social and economic progress. It has developed 12 conventions and many additional recommendations dealing with criminal justice issues, particularly extradition. Although some conventions remain unratified by many nations, the close contacts developed through council activities have fostered many informal but effective forms of international cooperation. The council's members are sovereign and independent on all issues. In contrast, the European Communities, such as the European Economic Communities, have specific powers and represent a much fuller integration of nations. Numerous bilateral agreements exist in addition to these multilateral forms of cooperation.