EU crime checks proposed

Europe's justice ministers have met to discuss developing information exchange networks for criminal records across the EU.

Information sharing in this field has "simply not kept pace with developments in the area of free movement" warned the Dutch presidency.

"In national systems, in all sorts of areas, we have some guarantees which can provide information about the judicial records of individuals in particular if they wish to apply for certain posts, certain professions," said Dutch justice minister Piet Hein Donner.

In order to prevent crime, proposals will focus on ensuring that the member state of residence of an individual is informed about the criminal past of an applicant for a certain post, such as working with children.

In some countries applicants for certain jobs have criminal records screened as a matter of routine.

The Dutch minister was quick to point out, however, that this development will "not involve a brand new register existing in parallel to national systems".

The European Commission plans to come up with a white paper on the subject of information exchange by the end of the year.