91999E0236

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0236/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Council

(15 February 1999)

Subject: Italian secret services report on the euro's use for money-laundering purposes

Is the Council aware that, in a report which was subsequently published by the daily newspaper "Il Messagero" on 25 January 1999, the Italian military secret services (SISMI) maintained that the euro could be used to launder proceeds from criminal activities which had not yet entered financial and banking channels?

Does it intend to ask the Italian Government to forward the SISMI report?

What action does it intend to take to prevent computer systems and the Internet from being used for criminal activities?

Reply

(26 April 1999)

1. The Council has not received the report to which the Honourable Member refers.

2. On the subject of money laundering and actions to prevent computer systems and the Internet from being used for criminal activities, the Council would draw attention to the following:

- Joint Action of 3 December 1998 on money laundering, the identification, tracing, freezing, seizing and confiscation of instrumentalities and the proceeds from crime(1);

- Action Plan of 28 April 1997 to combat organised crime(2);

- Resolution of 17 January 1995 on the lawful interception of telecommunications(3).

The Council would also direct the Honourable Member to the ongoing discussions on:

- a Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters;

- a Council Decision instructing Europol to deal with forgery of money and means of payment;

- the implementation of the Council conclusions of 3 December 1998 on elements of the Union's strategy against high tech crime, and

- an Action Plan for a safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks.

3. Reference should also be made to the work being conducted in other fora, e.g.:

- Europol (harmonisation of work by EU law enforcement agencies to monitor the Internet; organised crime linked with high tech);

- Council of Europe (Committee on crime in cyberspace);

- OECD (Committee for information, computer and communications policy; guidelines for cryptography policy);

- G8 (Group on high tech crime; network of contact points; principles for combating high tech crime);

- Financial Action Task Force (Recommendations on money laundering).

(1) OJ L 333, 9.12.1998, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 251, 15.8.1997, p. 1.

(3) OJ C 329, 4.11.1996, p. 1.