EU Constitution and civil rights

The proposed Constitution gives the EU substantial new powers over policing and criminal law. It overhauls the decision-making process for justice and home affairs, removing the national veto from most areas by abolishing the ‘pillar’ system. The new powers are primarily in cross-border cooperation, criminal procedure, and criminal law, but it also extends mutual recognition of legal decisions and procedures across the Union. It extends the power to initiate investigations to the EU’s justice body, Eurojust, and joint investigative and operational power to its police force, Europol, without increasing their accountability. Given that civil liberties are being eroded even by closely scrutinised national governments and their parliaments, this is a disturbing development.