8.6.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L1531 (Acts adopted pursuant to Title VI of the Treaty on European Union) COUNCIL DECISION of 28 May 2001 setting up a European crime prevention network (2001/427JHA) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in partic- ular Articles 30(1), 31 and 34(2)(c) thereof, Having regard to the initiative of the French Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas: 1) The European Parliament adopted a Resolution on 16 December 1993 on small-scale crime in urban areas and its links with organised crime (') and a Resolution on 17 November 1998 on guidelines and measures for the prevention of organised crime with reference to the establishment of a comprehensive strategy for combating it (). Article 29 of the Treaty states that the objective of the Union in this area is to be achieved by preventing and combating crime, organised or otherwise. The Vienna Action Plan called for crime prevention measures to be drawn up in the five years following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. The Tampere European Council of 15 and 16 October 1999 concluded that there was a need to develop crime prevention measures, to exchange best practices and to strengthen the network of competent national authori- ties for crime prevention, as well as cooperation between national organisations specialising in this field, speci- fying that this cooperation could have as its chief priori- ties juvenile, urban and drug-related crime. To this end, a study of the possibility of a programme financed by the Community was called for. The European Union Strategy for the beginning of the new millennium on the prevention and control of orga- nised crime (*) calls in Recommendation 6 for the Council to be assisted by suitably qualified experts on crime prevention, such as the national focal points, or 20, 24.1.1994, p. 188. 0] C 0] C 379, 7.12.1998, p. 44. 0] C 124, 3.5.2000, p. 1. by establishing a network of experts from national crime prevention organisations. Several major seminars and conferences on crime prevention, most notably those held in Stockholm in 1996, in Noordwijk in 1997, in London in 1998 and in the Algarve in 2000 called for the establishment of a network within the European Union to develop coopera- tion on crime prevention. The High Level Conference in the Algarve also highlighted the need for a multidisci- plinary, joint approach to crime prevention. The confer- ence in Zaragoza in 1996 also pointed to this need in highlighting the strong links between organised crime and crime in general. Society as a whole must be involved in the development of a partnership between national, local and regional public authorities, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and citizens. The causes of crime are multiple and must therefore be dealt with by measures at different levels, by different groups in society, in partnership with the players involved who have different powers and experience, including civil society. Since the majority of the crimes of which citizens of the European Union are victims are committed in urban areas, urban policies must also be taken into considera- tion. In so doing, emphasis should be given to any kind of urban violence that affects the normal functioning of the community, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 1. Article 1 A European Crime Prevention Network, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Network’ is hereby set up. 2. Network national representatives and a Secretariat shall ensure the proper functioning of the Network in accordance with this Decision.