Council Decision of 13 June 2002 adopting an action programme for administrative cooperation in the fields of external borders, visas, asylum and immigration (ARGO programme) (2002/463/EC)

Article 8 U.K. Types of actions

With a view to pursuing the objectives set out in Article 3 and the activities laid down in Articles 4, 5, 6 or 7, the ARGO programme may support the following types of actions:

(a)

training actions including, in particular, the elaboration of harmonised curricula and common core-training programmes to be organised by national agencies and complementary actions aimed at making national agencies receptive to the best working methods and techniques developed in other Member States;

(b)

staff exchange ensuring that seconded staff participate effectively in the work of the host national agencies;

(c)

actions promoting, on the one hand, the use of computerised handling of files and procedures, including use of the most up-to-date techniques for electronic data exchange and, on the other hand, the collection, analysis, distribution and exploitation of information making the fullest use of information technology, in particular, the establishment of information points and websites;

(d)

evaluation of the impact of common rules and procedures based on Articles 62 and 63 of the Treaty;

(e)

actions intended to promote the development of best practices with a view to improving working methods and equipment, simplifying procedures and shortening deadlines;

(f)

operational activities which might include the setting up of common operative centres and of teams composed of staff drawn from two or more Member States;

(g)

studies, research, conferences and seminars involving staff of the Member States and the Commission and, where appropriate, staff of the relevant national and international governmental and non-governmental organisations;

(h)

mechanisms for consulting and associating the relevant national and international governmental and non-governmental organisations;

(i)

Member States' activities in third countries, in particular fact-finding missions in countries of origin and transit;

(j)

the fight against document fraud.