The Convention between Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal migration, known as the Prüm Convention, was signed at Prüm on 27 May 2005, in a single original, the German, Spanish, French and Dutch texts being equally authentic. Depositary: the German government. It is not Schengen, not Council Decision 2008/615/JHA, which later took the core of the convention into Union law, and not the 2024 Prüm II Regulation. It is open to accession by any EU member state.

The preamble seeks, in an area of free movement of persons, pioneering cooperation through exchange of information, observing the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and a reasonable standard of data protection, subject to suitable judicial review under national law. Article 1: cooperation is without prejudice to Union law; within three years of entry into force at most, on the basis of experience, an initiative is to be submitted to incorporate the provisions into the EU framework. Article 47: the provisions apply only insofar as they are compatible with Union law, which takes precedence.

Chapter 2, at framework level, provides for national reference files of DNA profiles from the non-coding part of DNA, fingerprint data and vehicle registration data, with automated searching from national contact points and notification of a match or of the absence of one; reference data must not directly identify the data subject. Collection, matching and technical-access procedures are not transcribed. The chapters on anti-terrorist measures, joint patrols, assistance at mass events and cross-border pursuit remain at the level of a cooperation principle; they are not an operations or weapons protocol.

The convention contains a data-protection chapter: specified purpose, accuracy, retention periods and rights of the data subject, according to the receiving party's domestic law. Article 44: implementing agreements. Article 49: the depositary notifies ratifications, accessions, reservations and denunciations and registers the convention with the UN Secretariat, in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter.

Article 50: the convention enters into force ninety days after the second instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, among those parties; for the others, ninety days after their own instrument. First entry into force: 1 November 2006, between Austria and Spain. Article 51: accession open to any EU member state, likewise effective after ninety days. Article 52: denunciation effective after six months. The data-exchange core was taken over by the 2008 Council Decisions; unincorporated clauses remain among the signatories.

Cover: the abbey at Prüm, place of signature; we do not claim the room. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Prüm Convention; Prüm Convention (Council of the European Union, ST 10900/05).