"Differential integration in the third pillar: High gear for law enforcement changes in the accession states of Eastern and Central Europe"

Delong, Scott MacGregor. (2001) "Differential integration in the third pillar: High gear for law enforcement changes in the accession states of Eastern and Central Europe" . In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 2001 (7th), May 31-June 2, 2001, pages 16, Madison, Wisconsin.

Abstract

This paper focuses on a recent area of European Union competence that is not often examined: law enforcement cooperation and integration within the third pillar of Justice and Home Affairs. Until quite recently, law enforcement cooperation under the auspices of the European Union was minimal. Law enforcement matters, like security and defense issues, have always been deemed to be core immutable responsibilities of independent sovereign states. Insofar as some degree of transnational cooperation was necessary to fight crime, limited bilateral or multilateral agreements were negotiated. More extensive institutionalized and 'Europeanized' forms of cooperation did not even begin until the early 1990s and then developed in a rather slow and awkward manner. Yet there is now much evidence to suggest that both the scope and speed of cooperation in this field are increasing.