TREVI
Encyclopedia
TREVI was an intergovernmental network - or forum - of national officials from ministries of justice and the interior in the European Community created during the European Council
Summit in Rome
, 1–2 December 1975. It ceased to exist when it was integrated in the so-called Justice and Home Affairs
(JHA) pillar
of the European Union
(EU) upon into force of the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992.
The first TREVI meeting at the level of senior officials was held in Rome where the famous Trevi Fountain
is located and the meeting was chaired by a Dutchman
by the name of Fonteijn (which translates into English as fountain). In some French textbooks it is sometimes noted that TREVI stands for Terrorisme, Radicalisme, Extrémisme et Violence Internationale.
The creation of TREVI was prompted by several terrorist acts, most notably the hostage taking and consequent massacre
during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich
, and the inability of Interpol
at that time to effectively assist the European countries in their combat against this terrorism
. However, while TREVI initially was intended to coordinate effective counter-terrorism responses among European governments, it slowly extended its business to many other issues in cross-border policing between the members of the European Community. Many of the practices and a large part of the structure in former Third Pillar policy-making founded their origin in TREVI.
European Council
The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...
Summit in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 1–2 December 1975. It ceased to exist when it was integrated in the so-called Justice and Home Affairs
Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters
The third of the three pillars of the European Union was Justice and Home Affairs , which was shrunk and renamed Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters in 2003. The pillar existed between 1993 and 2009, when it was absorbed into a consolidated EU structure.The pillar focused on...
(JHA) pillar
Three pillars of the European Union
Between 1993 and 2009, the European Union legally consisted of three pillars. This structure was introduced with the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993, and was eventually abandoned on 1 December 2009 with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, when the EU obtained a consolidated legal...
of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) upon into force of the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992.
The first TREVI meeting at the level of senior officials was held in Rome where the famous Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi rione in Rome, Italy. Standing 26 metres high and 20 metres wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world....
is located and the meeting was chaired by a Dutchman
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
by the name of Fonteijn (which translates into English as fountain). In some French textbooks it is sometimes noted that TREVI stands for Terrorisme, Radicalisme, Extrémisme et Violence Internationale.
The creation of TREVI was prompted by several terrorist acts, most notably the hostage taking and consequent massacre
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, and the inability of Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
at that time to effectively assist the European countries in their combat against this terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. However, while TREVI initially was intended to coordinate effective counter-terrorism responses among European governments, it slowly extended its business to many other issues in cross-border policing between the members of the European Community. Many of the practices and a large part of the structure in former Third Pillar policy-making founded their origin in TREVI.
Further reading
- Anderson, M., M. den Boer, P. Cullen, W. Gilmore, C. Raab and N. Walker. (1995) Policing the European Union. Theory Law and Practice. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Hebenton, B. and T. Thomas (1995) Policing Europe. Co-operation, Conflicts and Control. New York: St. Martin’s Press Inc.
- Nilsson, H. (2004) ‘The Justice and Home Affairs Council’, in M. Westlake and D. Galloway (eds) The Council of the European Union. London: John Harper Publishing.