Justice and Home Affairs Council, 8-9 December 2022

Summary:

A meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) was held on 8-9 December 2022. The agenda included the following items:

• Adoption of conclusions on the fight against impunity regarding crimes committed in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine;
• Discussion on draft Directive on asset recovery and confiscation;
• Adoption of general approach on draft Directive concerning environmental crime;
• Adoption of general approach on draft Regulation on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice and accompanying draft Directive;
• Discussion on the draft Directive against strategic lawsuits against public participation (anti-SLAPP directive);
• Discussion on the fight against antisemitism;
• Discussion on the European Union's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR);
• Presentation by the European Commission on its annual report on the application of the EU fundamental rights charter;
• Update on progress made on the legislative initiatives concerning e-evidence;
• Adoption of conclusions on enhancing the capacities of the European Judicial Cybercrime Network (EJCN);
• Update on the preparations and agenda for a forthcoming EU-US ministerial meeting in the area of justice and home affairs;
• Update on the outcome of the EU-Western Balkans ministerial forum in the area of justice and home affairs;
• Briefing on the conference on whistleblowing (Prague, October 2022);
• Presentation on the outcome of the workshop on digitalisation of justice (Brussels, October 2022);
• Presentation by the Commission on a Recommendation concerning procedural rights of suspects and accused persons;
• Presentation by the Swedish Council Presidency of its work programme and priorities in relevant areas;
• Adoption of Decision on the full application of the Schengen acquis in Croatia;
• Exchange of views on the overall state of the Schengen area, focusing on internal security measures;
• Update on the state of play regarding legislative initiatives focusing on asylum and migration;
• Discussion on ongoing work regarding a draft Regulation seeking to address instrumentalisation in the field of migration and asylum;
• Exchange of views on the external dimension of migration and the situation along the main migratory routes;
• Discussion on improving the effectiveness of the EU return policy;
• Adoption of an Implementing Decision increasing the visa fee applied to nationals of The Gambia;
• Exchange of views on the situation of Ukrainian refugees in the EU;
• Update on the internal security dialogue with Ukraine;
• Update on the response provided by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to challenges arising from the invasion in Ukraine;
• Adoption of Decision not to accept Russian documents issued in Ukraine and Georgia;
• Adoption of Directive and Recommendation seeking to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen the resilience of critical entities;
• Update on progress made as regards a draft Regulation seeking to prevent and tackle child sexual abuse online;
• Briefing on the cooperation between competent authorities dealing with counter-terrorism;
• Briefing on the outcome of the Prague Process ministerial conference.

Official

General Secretariat of the Council: Background Brief for Council meeting - Justice and Home Affairs Council, 8-9 December 2022 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/60636/background-brief-jha-221208-09-nv.pdf

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