Press Release: 3319th Council meeting, Justice and Home Affairs, Luxembourg, 5 and 6 June 2014

Main results of the Council:

Task Force Mediterranean
The Council took note of the report from the Commission about the state of the implementation of the operational actions within the context of the Task Force Mediterranean and welcomed the progress achieved so far.

The Council acknowledged that the situation in the Mediterranean is of great concern to all member states. The timely implementation of the initiatives identified by the Task Force, with the active contribution of all the stakeholders involved, are key to assist the member states situated in the Southern and Eastern borders to address the challenges they are currently facing.

The European Council will return to the issue of asylum and migration at its next meeting on 26-27 June 2014 in a broader and longer term policy perspective, when strategic guidelines for further legislative and operational planning in the area of freedom, security and justice will be adopted.

Future development of the Justice and Home Affairs area.
Justice and Home Affairs ministers held a concluding debate on the Future development of the Justice and Home Affairs area. The Presidency will reflect the Council’s positions in a letter to the President of the European Council, which will serve as an input for the strategic guidelines to be defined by the European Council on the 26-27 of June.

The Presidency noted that the Council will revert to the issue of the strategic guidelines during the Italian and Latvian presidencies with an aim to discuss the modalities for their implementation.

Foreign fighters and returnees
The Council had an in-depth discussion on the issue of foreign fighters and returnees from a counter-terrorism perspective, in particular with regard to Syria. Home affairs ministers welcomed the report of the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and concluded
that work should be intensified. Moreover, the suggestions for possible new actions with regard to the priorities identified should be taken forward and implemented as soon as possible.

Ministers concluded that the European foreign fighters is an issue of serious concern and remains of the utmost importance, also from the perspective of the internal security of the EU, as the recent attack in the Jewish Museum in Brussels has shown. This attack is an illustration of the need for all the concerted actors to step up cooperation, especially in the field of in formation exchange.

Europol
The Council reached a general approach on the proposal for a regulation on the European Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol). This general approach will constitute the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament in order to agree the final text of the regulation.

EU anti corruption report
The Council adopted conclusions on the EU anti corruption report presented by the European Commission in February this year.

Data Protection
The Council reached a partial general approach on specific aspects of the draft regulation setting out a general EU framework for data protection. The partial general approach includes the provisions on territorial scope, the respective definitions of Binding Corporate Rules and "international organisations" and the transfer of personal data to third countries or international organisations.

The Council also held an orientation debate on the "one-stop-shop" mechanism on the basis of a document prepared by the Presidency. The incoming Council Presidency will continue work at technical level on this issue. Charalambos ATHA6ASSIOU, Greek Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights and President of the Council said: “We have devoted a lot of effort to this proposal. Sufficient progress has been made to support a partial general approach. Today’s agreement constitutes a good basis for future work”.

Procedural safeguards for children
The Council reached a general approach on the proposal for a directive on procedural safeguards for children who are suspected or accused in criminal proceedings. This will constitute the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament in order to agree the final text of the regulation.

The proposal aims at ensuring that children are able to understand and follow the criminal proceedings to which they are subject, and that they can exercise their right to a fair trial. The proposal also seeks to prevent re-offending by children and foster their social integration.

Insolvency proceedings
The Council reached a general approach on the proposal for a regulation amending the existing Council regulation (1346/2000) on insolvency proceedings. The proposed regulation aims at making cross-border insolvency proceedings more efficient and effective with a view to ensuring a smooth functioning of the internal market and its resilience in economic crises. “I would like to thank all member states for their cooperation. We have put a lot of effort into this proposal, which constitutes one of the key priorities for the Hellenic Presidency in times of economic crisis”, the Greek Justice Minister stressed.

European public prosecutor’s office
The Council was briefed by the Presidency on the state of play on the proposal for a regulation regarding the setting up of a European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). Ministers welcomed the text set out in the document prepared by the Presidency as basis for future work. The proposed regulation aims to strengthen the fight against crimes against the Union's financial interests by the introduction of a European Public Prosecutor's Office with competence in thatarea.

• Primary Source

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ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on the Mid-Term Review of the EU’s Maritime Transport Policy until 2018 and Outlook to 2020 http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-the-mid-term-review-of-the-eus-maritime-transport-policy-until-2018-and-outlook-to-2020/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on EU Return Policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-eu-return-policy/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions - "Preventing and combating all forms of violence against women and girls, including female genital mutilation" http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-preventing-and-combating-all-forms-of-violence-against-women-and-girls-including-female-genital-mutilation/

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