Home · Maps · About

[ Read Responses | Post a New Response | Return to the Index ]
[ First in Thread | Next in Thread ]

view flat

EU's ''Stockholm Program'' adopted 12/11/09 ("Fortress Europe")

Posted by Olog-hai on Mon Dec 14 08:18:34 2009, in response to EU's "Stockholm Program" plans—Surveillance State, posted by Olog-hai on Thu Jun 18 01:38:22 2009.

---

Europe moves toward single area on justice and home affairs

VALENTINA POP
2009-12-14 @ 08:34 CET

BRUSSELS — EU leaders on Friday (11 December) adopted a five-year plan giving a greater role to community bodies in the area of justice and home affairs, establishing an "internal security strategy" and pointing toward a common asylum system by 2012.

The so-called Stockholm Program tries to combine a Swedish EU presidency focus on civil rights with more security-driven provisions, including a tougher stance on illegal immigration — something called for by Italy and other Mediterranean countries.

Training and exchange programs for policemen and judges to facilitate cooperation at a personal level are also part of the scheme.

"The challenge is to ensure respect for fundamental rights and freedoms and integrity while guaranteeing security in Europe," European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said after the meeting of the bloc's leaders.

Under the provisions of the new EU treaty, which came into force on 1 December, Brussels gains more powers in the area of justice and home affairs, through the strengthening of agencies such as Frontex, the border management agency and Europol, the police cooperation body.

An "internal security" body (COSI) will also be set up within the Council of the EU, the administrative body serving member states in their decision-making process.

Friday's Stockholm agreement called for the development of an EU-wide "internal security strategy," focusing on the division of labor between Brussels and national capitals in counterterrorism, border management, civil protection and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

The new security body (COSI) would be tasked to develop, monitor and implement this strategy.

However, civil liberty watchdogs fear that this body will lack transparency and accountability. "COSI is going to be a very powerful body …and should be accountable to national and European parliaments," Tony Bunyan from Statewatch writes.

National parliamentarians also flagged up concerns when debating the program together with the European Parliament last month.

Annie David of the French Senate said "the security aspects of the program are worrying" and give the impression of a "Fortress Europe."

All measures for implementing the Stockholm Program will have to be tabled by the EU commission by June next year.

Unlike the previous five-year program, which ends this year, the European Parliament will now have the power to co-decide* on every piece of legislation needed for putting the Stockholm Program in place.

Common asylum policy by 2012

The blueprint also reconfirms the aim of setting up a common asylum system by 2012, based on the "solidarity principle," which southern states, affected by migration from Africa, have long been calling for. This would allow relocation of asylum seekers from countries faced with large migrant flows to states to another member state.

"Well-managed migration can be beneficial to all stakeholders. Europe will need a flexible policy which is responsive to the priorities and needs of member states and enables migrants to take full advantage of their potential," the document reads.

Human rights organizations are likely to be concerned by the strong security and law-enforcement wording in the text: "In order to maintain credible and sustainable immigration and asylum systems in the EU, it is necessary to prevent, control and combat illegal migration as the EU faces an increasing pressure from illegal migration flows and particularly the member states at its external borders, including at its southern borders."

Rome's infamous extradition agreement with Libya, sending back migrant boats before they reach Italy's territorial waters, has so far gone unpunished by the EU, despite an outcry by civil society.

---