Publication

This paper discusses the 2005 Prüm Convention, signed by seven EU members, to step up cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal migration. It states that its main advantage is that it enables the signatories to speed up the exchange of information. However, this paper argues that the Treaty produces negative externalities for the European Union's area of freedom, security and justice by circumventing the EU framework. The paper ends that Prüm weakens the EU more than it strengthens it, and under many circumstances cannot provide the way forward to the establishment of a manageable area of freedom, security and justice.