POLICING THE EUROPEAN UNION - THE CHANGING BASIS OF COOPERATION ON LAW-ENFORCEMENT

Despite wide acceptance that the prevention of transnational crime, the harmonization of judicial policy and procedures, and the coordination of issues associated with immigration, are important aspects of increasing European integration, cooperation in European policing has received relatively little attention. This article considers past and present attempts at such cooperation and identifies three levels at which it can take place, terming these the macro, meso and micro levels. It proceeds to examine the development of structures and activities at each level, with reference to particular areas of interest, and then turns to the prospects for future cooperation, noting both the momentum that has built up in its favour and the obstacles in the path of further advances.