Commission outlines EU justice priorities

The 'Stockholm Programme' is the name given to the broad legislative agenda in the area of justice and home affairs for the period 2009-2014, tabled by the Swedish EU Presidency in 2009.

The European Commission presented concrete actions on the programme on 20 April 2010 – with set timetables – to boost citizens' ability to work, travel and study outside their home countries. The proposals will enhance citizens' security with better judicial cooperation and increased solidarity through a common immigration and asylum policy. Businesses will also benefit from less red tape and more legal certainty in cross-border transactions.

Citizens expect to have the same rights and sense of security throughout the European Union. Creating a single area of justice and security for 500 million Europeans is a top priority for the European Commission in the next five years.

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, the EU now has the tools to bring a new balance into policies to strengthen the rights and freedoms of Europe's citizens.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Press Release: IP/10/447: Commission acts to bolster citizens' data protection, protect defendants' rights and enhance immigration and asylum cooperation http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/447&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

ESO: Background information: The Stockholm Programme - An open and secure Europe serving and protecting the citizens http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-stockholm-programme-an-open-and-secure-europe-serving-and-protecting-the-citizens/

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