Justice and Home Affairs
Discussions over the SWIFT banking data transfer agreement dominated the first half of 2010, with MEPs rejecting the agreement on data protection grounds. The United States deems the transfer of banking details necessary to fight terrorism, but many voices in Europe disagree, leading to a prolonged period of transatlantic uncertainty. However in the last days of June an agreement was signed with the USA, as the Spanish presidency and the US agreed to MEPs’ demands for changes to the text. Elsewhere, legislation was adopted guaranteeing translation and interpretation rights for suspects facing criminal proceedings outside their country of residence. The Commission has also proposed legislation combating child pornography and human trafficking.
Belgian Presidency
The presence of a Belgian, Gilles de Kerckhove, as the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator will boost the Belgian government’s efforts to take forward the EU’s anti-terror policy, and the government has pledged to work with him to implement his priorities. With Justice and Home Affairs now fully integrated into the Community method of the EU, governments are still finding their feet with the greater co-decision in this field under the Lisbon Treaty. Meanwhile, MEPs will continue their vocal opposition to any infringements of civil liberties. These two factors would combine to create a very fine balancing act for any presidency. For a presidency potentially weakened by political chaos at home, like the Belgian presidency, the need for leadership and assertiveness will be even greater.
Key Belgian Priorities
- Push for a ‘single permit’ for legal migration
- Continue implementing the Stockholm Programme
- Enhance cooperation for regional trans-border justice
- Draft guidelines for detecting radicalisation
- Share best practices in combating human trafficking
- Enhance the exchange of best practices in fighting ‘small criminality’
Key dates
- JHA Council (7-8 October)
- High Level Conference on Asylum Policy (13-14 October)
- High Level Conference on Family Mediation and Fight Against Family Abduction (14-15 October)
- JHA Council (4-5 November)
- JHA Council (2-3 November)