The EU Council of Justice and Home Affairs is calling for a single communications network to be created to improve the circulation of information on online crime.

A recent council meeting (PDF) concluded that "within the general framework of exchange of information and the application of the principle of availability between member states' law enforcement authorities, the aim is to promote common practices with regard to the tracing, acquisition, compilation and storage of data, search and seizure of computer data".

It also noted that it is becoming "a matter of urgency" to coordinate the action taken against cybercrime and to set up joint structures to deal with this type of crime.

The report suggests that the European Police Office (Europol) is the best body to host and run this type of centralised platform and help combat international cybercrime more effectively.

The council added that the rules on personal data protection should also be observed by Europol. To make this a reality, it is calling on EU member states to set up national alert platforms, where details of local cybercrime issues can be posted by the public and professional bodies alike.

These national systems can then transmit information to the centralised European alert platform.

The council is also encouraging governments to foster strong partnerships between public and private organisations working to combat cybercrime, as well as to compile statistics on alerts, showing the development of threats at a national level.

Europol will then collect and centralise the information, analysing the data to determine whether the offences are European or international in nature.

Where appropriate, Europol should report information back to the national platforms as well as setting up a European information web site on IT crime to raise awareness of the national platforms and offer general information and statistics.

The European Commission is also being asked to offer financial support for national and trans-national projects related to the venture.