l drug trafficking and other serious forms of
international crime, including if necessary certain aspects of customs
co-operation, in connection with the organization of a Union-wide
system for exchanging information within a European Police Office
(Europol).

ARTICLE K.2
1. The matters referred to in Article K.1 shall be dealt with in
compliance with the European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 4 November 1950 and the
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951 and
having regard to the protection afforded by Member States to persons
persecuted on political grounds.
2. This Title shall not affect the exercise of the responsibilities
incumbent upon Member States with regard to the maintenance of law
and order and the safeguarding of internal security.

ARTICLE K.3
1. In the areas referred to in Article K.1, Member States shall inform
and consult one another within the Council with a view to co-ordinating
their action. To that end, they shall establish collaboration between the
relevant departments of their administrations.
2. The Council may:
- on the initiative of any Member State or of the Commission, in the
areas referred to in Article K.1(1) to (6);
- on the initiative of any Member State, in the areas referred to Article
K1(7) to (9):
(a) adopt joint positions and promote, using the appropriate form and
procedures, any co-operation contributing to the pursuit of the
objectives of the Union;
(b) adopt joint action in so far as the objectives of the Union can be
attained better by joint action than by the Member States acting
individually on account of the scale or effects of the action envisaged;
it may decide that measures implementing joint action are to be
adopted by a qualified majority;
(c) without prejudice to Article 220 of the Treaty establishing the
European Community, draw up conventions which it shall recommend
to the Member States for adoption in accordance with their respective
constitutional requirements.
Unless otherwise provided by such conventions, measures
implementing them shall be adopted within the Council by a majority
of two-thirds of the High Contracting Parties.
Such conventions may stipulate that the Court of Justice shall have
jurisdiction to interpret their provisions and to rule on any disputes
regarding their application, in accordance with such arrangements as
they may lay down.

ARTICLE K.4
1. A Co-ordinating Commit