Priority has been given to the development of an assessment mechanism, and a strategy was developed out of a meeting of member state representatives. Included in the strategy was, among other things, a list of topics to be dealt with in annual national reports. Also, consensus was reached on a list of 11 features of organized criminal groups. This list was to be used as a selection instrument for groups that have at least six of these features. In 1995 this mechanism was used for the first time. Only 6 of the 15 European Union member states were able to provide quantitative data on organized crime in 1994. There are still a number of problems to address in order to establish a common assessment mechanism. Not all member states have a national criminal intelligence service. Also, the collecting and analysis of relevant information raises methodological as well as organizational problems. Still, the results provided a better understanding of international organized crime than in the earlier report. An analysis of the findings thus far can provide benefits for Central and Eastern European countries as well as Western Europe. 1 note