(Brussels, 30 November) There are major gaps and inconsistencies in the draft Stockholm Programme where irregular migration is concerned, says Amnesty International on the day that Justice and Home Affairs Ministers will be adopting the five year policy document.

In a letter (available here) the organization expressed concern towards the EU’s plans on irregular migration. Disappointingly, the EU’s proposals to achieve a “forward looking and comprehensive European migration policy” are disproportionally aimed at returning migrants, without taking into account the rights of irregular migrants.

“A migration policy that is only concerned with returning people and that does not take the rights of migrants seriously cannot work; on the contrary it risks undermining the EU’s credibility even more” said Natalia Alonso, Acting Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office.

In relation to cooperation with third countries in particular, Amnesty International is surprised and worried that the Global Approach to migration is seen as a “success” when there is compelling evidence that cooperation with third countries, namely with Libya, has often resulted in serious human rights violations.  (weiter)

A European Court of Cyber Affairs, mutual recognition by EU Member States of same-sex couples, and a set of prisoners' rights in the EU should be incorporated in the 4-year Stockholm programme of laws to consolidate EU citizens' rights, said MEPs at a joint meeting of the Civil Liberties, Legal Affairs and Constitutional Affairs committees on Thursday.

Members agreed on the need to strengthen the EU's common policy on the fight against terrorism, organised crime, illegal immigration, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.  (weiter)

HOUSE OF LORDS

European Union Committee

25th Report of Session 2008–09
The Stockholm Programme: home affairs

Report with Evidence
Ordered to be printed 3 November 2009 and published 9 November 2009

Published by the Authority of the House of Lords
London : The Stationery Office Limited

Download: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldselect/ldeucom/175/175.pdf

30th of November and 1st of December 2009 in Brussels - Transnational Protests in front of the EU - Justice and Home Affairs - Meeting

[noborder.org] Refugee Protection and Migrants Rights instead of a brutal EU-Border-regime! No to the repressive Stockholm program! After Tampere and The Hague, the Stockholm program will constitute the next 5-year-framework for Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) within the EU and its memberstates. The new program claims to build up the 'area of freedom, justice and security'. But in fact it will continue to implement an even tighter regime of surveillance and control and will promote a securitisation of social life, undermining all civil rights and privacy despite contrary claims.

Those most affected are refugees and migrants, denounced and criminalized as 'illegals' and hunted by national borderguards and the EU-agency Frontex. With the "road map of Stockholm" the EU and national governments go on to escalate their border regimes to a real war as Frontex' role in militarising the borders will be strengthened once again.  (weiter)

Update 19th October: This leaked document has significant differences to the official one, released 10 days later. Statewatch yesterday analysed the changes.

(DRAFT 6/10.2009)

The Challenges Ahead Towards a Citizens Europe in the Area of  freedom, security and justice

The European Council endorses the Stockholm Program, which sets out the priority actions for the next five years and beyond in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice.

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the Union will become more open, more efficient and more democratic. The Institutions will have increased opportunities for achieving the ambitious goals set out in the program, while increasing the possibilities that efficient implementation is made in the member states.

The Lisbon Treaty should be used to the fullest extent possible.

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European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (AEDH)

Brussels, October, 7th 2009. The European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (AEDH) welcomes the adoption for the upcoming 5 years of a Programme on the “freedom, security and justice area” which will succeed the Hague Programme.

AEDH wishes for a more global and balanced Programme, in the vein of the 1999 Tampere Programme.  (weiter)

MEPs last week (8 October) debated the Swedish EU Presidency's proposed new programme for freedom, security and justice in the EU. The plans, which are in line with Sweden's progressive national policies, were welcomed by liberal MEPs but described as weak on immigration by southern Europeans.

The meeting in the European Parliament, which featured no less than four parliamentary committees as well as representatives from national parliaments, aimed to explore the proposed Stockholm programme, which will set out the EU's priorities for the next five-year period on thorny issues such as EU citizenship - including measures to protect citizens - solidarity, access to justice and reaping the full benefits of the single market through European contract law.  (weiter)

further to Question for Oral Answer B7-0000/2009 pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - An area of freedom, security and justice serving the citizen - Stockholm programme

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A five-year blueprint for laws to consolidate EU citizens' rights and improve their access to justice, protection and solidarity was debated by MEPs and their national counterparts on Thursday.

A draft resolution, which should serve as a blueprint for freedom, security and justice legislation over the next five years, sets out priorities for work on EU citizenship, including measures for the protection of citizens, solidarity, access to justice and reaping the full benefits of the single market through European contract law.  (weiter)

The timetables for the Stockholm Programme have become a great deal clearer since the return of the Parliament following the summer break and the communication between the Swedish Presidency and relevant parliamentary committees.

The Programme aims to set the priorities for a variety of justice issues (including criminal and civil law enforcement cooperation) for the period 2010-2014 and beyond. This initiative takes over from the 2004-2009 Hague Programme. Little new information about the potential content of the final document has been communicated so far, despite the fact that the broad direction of the document is expected to be finalised by the end of October. How any subsequent proposals will be scrutinised by the EU institutions will depend heavily on the outcome of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.  (weiter)

Time to show your cards - The need for a genuine commitment to establish a Common European Asylum System based on high standards of protection

1. Introduction

With the publication of its Communication 'An area of freedom, security and justice serving the citizen', the Commission has presented its views on the EU's priorities in the field of justice and home affairs, including in the field of asylum, for the next five years. The Communication will be used as the basis for discussions between the various stakeholders at EU level that should result in the adoption in December 2009 by the Heads of State and Government of the so-called Stockholm Programme. ECRE believes that the Stockholm Programme provides the EU with the opportunity to set ambitious goals for building a fair and efficient common asylum system, which could serve as a model to other regions in the world. The EU has the means and the capacity to construct a model system of protection but it currently lacks the political will to go much beyond rhetoric. The EU's asylum policy is in need of a renewed political commitment and leadership. The new five-year programme in the area of freedom, justice and security is an important occasion to secure such commitment.  (weiter)

Caritas Europa and five Christian partner organisations (Christian Group) have sent  their recommendations on the “Stockholm Programme” to the Swedish Presidency of the EU, the European Commission and the European Council.  (weiter)

Sweden's history of progressive positions within the European Union on human rights has campaigners optimistic about the upcoming Swedish presidency of the EU.

Officials with Amnesty International, the human rights NGO, said in Brussels on Tuesday that while they are not in the business of ranking EU member states in terms of their commitments to human rights, with Sweden in charge of the EU for the next six months, the group is "very hopeful".

"Sweden made a considerable impact on the EU's broader human rights agenda during its last presidency in 2001," said Lise Bergh, secretary-general of Amnesty International Sweden, speaking to reporters ahead of the presentation of a serious of recommendations for Stockholm's turn at the helm of the bloc.  (weiter)

2009 is a year of important institutional changes at European level, not least because the European Parliament was reconstituted after the European elections on 4-7 June. Later in the year, it will be the Commission’s turn to be renewed, and it can be expected that it will also reorganise its departments, with the new Parliament exercising an increasing degree of influence. July 2009 also marks the start of the Swedish Presidency of the Council, which has high on its agenda the objective of defining the action programme – already called the ‘Stockholm Programme’ – for the next five years in the area of freedom, security and justice. 

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) which, through its members, represents over 700,000 lawyers from the European Union and European Economic Area and beyond, is of course trying to influence the direction of the EU’s principal policies in the field of justice. It is in this context that the CCBE published a manifesto calling for ‘the right kind of justice for Europe’.  (weiter)

The European Union's wide-ranging Stockholm Programme risks further damaging citizens' hard earned privacy rights, argues Pirate Party member and long-time libertarian blogger Henrik Alexandersson.

EU ministers are gathering in Stockholm this week to advance their work on the Stockholm Programme, a five-year plan they claim is designed to make it easier to catch criminals and keep Europe’s citizens safe.

But despite soothing words from politicians about the programme’s virtues, it’s critical for EU citizens to stand up now and protest against the threat it presents to privacy and individual rights.

On the surface, the Stockholm Programme’s professed set of goals may appear somewhat benign – perhaps even sensible –with its calls for increased cooperation to fight terrorism and organized cross-border crime.

But we’ve already got a pretty good idea that the kinds of measures under consideration for meeting the Stockholm Programme’s goals are anything but benign.

In short, we’re talking about increased surveillance which tramples on the privacy rights of individuals and about higher walls being constructed around Europe’s borders.  (weiter)