3. Supports Member States in their actions to combat organised crime and encourages them to strengthen their judicial authorities and police forces on the basis of the best current experience, including by comparing the legislation and resources designed to support their activities, and to assign adequate human and financial resources for that purpose; calls on the Member States to pursue a proactive approach to investigation, draw up national plans to combat organised crime, and provide for central coordination of activities by appr ...[+++]opriate specific structures, taking their cue from the most successful experiences of some Member States; calls for the COSI to organise an annual meeting attended at least by Member States, the Commission, the Council, the European Parliament, Europol and Eurojust where the results achieved and the future plans for combating organised crime at EU and national level can be presented;

It is very sad that in Mexico and Central American countries the functioning of the rule of law in certain cases leaves a lot to be desired, either because of real organisational deficiencies in the police and judiciary systems, or because of corruption and impunity.

8. Welcomes the adoption of a constitution by the Loya Jirga as an important step towards strengthening a transitional government for Afghanistan under President Karzai, and as a fundamental precondition for democratic elections in June 2004; recognises that this constitution takes account of all ethnic groups in the country and will thus contribute to the stabilisation of state structures, provided that it is translated into political reality; realises the need for an effective central authority; is pleased to note the specific reference to the equal treatment of men and women; remains concerned, however, about the following points: ...[+++] restrictions on the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion and the fact that the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHCR) does not have locus standi in the courts or the right to bring human rights violations to court; considers that the political neutrality of the armed forces, the police and the intelligence services and their subordination to civilian control should be guaranteed, as should the independence of the judiciary and the civil service; hopes these obstacles can be removed at the time of the future application of the Constitution;

7. Welcomes the adoption of a constitution by the Loya Jirga as an important step towards strengthening a transitional government for Afghanistan under President Karzai, and as a fundamental precondition for democratic elections in June 2004; recognises that this constitution takes account of all ethnic groups in the country and will thus contribute to the stabilisation of state structures, provided that it is translated into political reality; realises the need for an effective central authority; is pleased to note the specific reference to the equal treatment of men and women; remains concerned, however, about the following points: ...[+++] limitations on the right of freedom of religion and expression, the fact that the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHCR) does not have locus standi in the courts and the right to bring human rights violations to court, the political neutrality of the armed forces, the police and the intelligence services and their subordination to civilian control should be guaranteed, as should the independence of the judiciary and the civil service; hopes these obstacles can be removed at the time of the future application of the Constitution;

The outcome of the investigation is the fruit of many years of close cooperation between the European Anti-Fraud Office and the Italian law enforcement authorities, especially the Naples Prosecutor's Office and the Revenue Police, with the Serious Financial Crime Office of the French Judicial Police (Office de répression de la grande délinquance financière de la police judiciaire), and with the Central Economic and Financial Crime Office (Office Central de Lutte ...[+++]contre la délinquance économique et financière) in Belgium.

39. Notes that approximately half a million women from Central and Eastern Europe are transported every year to the European Union to be sold into prostitution: calls on the Member States to make serious efforts to combat trafficking by improving the input of the police, judicial and social authorities and through intensive cooperation with the applicant countries and other countries adjoining the EU;