Justice and home affairs in the EU. Liberty and security issues after enlargement

Abstract:

The fine balance to be observed between adequate protection of civil liberties and fundamental rights and the development of legislative and institutional systems providing effective security for citizens is at the heart of this work.

Following an introductory chapter, part one focuses on the fundamentals of justice and home affairs policy in a post-enlargement EU. Chapters two to four discuss what the EU's JHA policy should comprise, the challenges facing the JHA domain in an enlarged Europe, and the division of competencies between national and European levels.

Part two, comprising chapters five to eleven, looks at scenarios for crime, law and justice in an enlarged European Union. Topics covered include an evaluation of the Council of Europe's contribution to the creation of an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, the implications of the European Convention, the establishment of Eurojust, and the role of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

In part three, chapters 12 to 21 explore in great depth how policy makers in the twin fields of criminal justice co-operation and the creation of a common immigration and asylum policy have gone about trying to meet the Tampere targets.

The work concludes with a set of practical recommendations in five areas; Consequences of enlargement on Justice and Home Affairs; Fundamentals of EU Justice and Home Affairs policy post enlargement; Scenarios of crime, law and justice in an enlarged EU; Towards an immigration and asylum policy for Europe; and future of Justice and Home Affairs policies and processes.

The book will interest scholars and students of European studies and law, European-level policy makers and policy analysts.

Joanna Apap is Head of Unit and Research Fellow on Justice and Home Affairs in an Enlarged Union at the Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels.