Meeting: Justice and Home Affairs, 3-4 December 2015

A meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council was scheduled to take place on 03-04 December 2015. The following topics were expected to be discussed:

+ Ministers were expected to reach a partial general approach on a regulation establishing the European public prosecutor's office;

+ Discussion on the consequences of the invalidation of the Data Retention Directive;

+ Discussion regarding the actions in the fight against terrorism and the internal security strategy of the European Union, taking note of the progress in negotiations with the European Parliament on a directive for the use of passenger name record (PNR) data.

+ Discussion on the aspects of judicial cooperation and the fight against xenophobia on the basis of a presidency report. Further discussion on recent EU action regarding migration.

ESO: Background information: Court of Justice of the EU: Council adopts reform of General Court http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-court-of-justice-of-the-eu-council-adopts-reform-of-general-court/

ESO: Background information: Updated rules for Europol: Council confirms the agreement found with EP http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-updated-rules-for-europol-council-confirms-the-agreement-found-with-ep/

EurActiv, 04.12.15: EU debates longer-term suspension of Schengen travel-free zone http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/eu-debates-longer-term-suspension-schengen-travel-free-zone-320117

ESO: Background information: Council adopts conclusions on statelessness http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-adopts-conclusions-on-statelessness/

ESO: Background information: EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive: Council confirms agreement found with EP http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-passenger-name-record-pnr-directive-council-confirms-agreement-found-with-ep/

ESO: Background information: Refugee Crisis: Greece activates EU Civil protection mechanism, agrees Frontex operation at border with former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and triggers RABIT mechanism http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-refugee-crisis-greece-activates-eu-civil-protection-mechanism-agrees-frontex-operation-at-border-with-former-yugoslav-republic-of-macedonia-and-triggers-rabit-mechanism/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/6257, 04.12.15: Press Conference: Justice and Home Affairs Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-6257_en.htm

EurActiv, 05.12.15: EU mulls plan to take charge of Europe's borders http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/eu-mulls-plan-take-charge-europes-borders-320152

EUObserver, 11.12.15: EU plans fully-fledged external border force https://euobserver.com/migration/131487

Politico, 11.12.15: EU aims to boost border agency http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-aims-to-boost-border-agency/

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