The Member States 25 March 1957, Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union#PART THREE - UNION POLICIES AND INTERNAL ACTIONS#TITLE V - AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE#Chapter 4 - Judicial cooperation in criminal matters#Article 83(ex Article 31 TEU)

2. To the extent necessary to facilitate mutual recognition of judgments and judicial decisions and police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters having a cross-border dimension, the European Parliament and the Council may, by means of directives adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, establish minimum rules.