52010DC0171

[pic] | EUROPEAN COMMISSION |

Brussels, 20.4.2010

COM(2010) 171 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme

1. Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens

The European area of freedom, security and justice is, together with the Europe 2020 strategy, a key element of the EU's response to the global long-term challenges and a contribution to strengthening and developing the European model of social market economy into the 21st century.

In a period of change, as the world only starts to emerge from the economic and financial crisis, the European Union has more than ever the duty to protect and project our values and to defend our interests. Respect for the human person and human dignity, freedom, equality, and solidarity are our everlasting values at a time of unrelenting societal and technological change. These values must therefore be at the heart of our endeavours.

The Stockholm programme adopted by the European Council in December 2009[1] sets the priorities for developing the European area of freedom, security and justice in the next five years. Its contents reflect the discussions with the European Parliament, the Council, Member States and stakeholders over the recent years. At its core are the ambitions the Commission outlined in its June 2009 Communication[2] which led to the adoption of the Stockholm Programme.

The main thrust of Union's action in this field in the coming years will be ‘Advancing people's Europe’, ensuring that citizens can exercise their rights and fully benefit from European integration.

It is in the areas of freedom, security and justice that citizens expect most from policy-makers as this is affecting their daily life. Women and men in Europe rightly expect to live in a peaceful and prosperous Union confident that their rights are fully respected and their security provided.

A European area of freedom, security and justice must be an area where all people, including third country nationals, benefit from the effective respect of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The aim of this action plan is to deliver those priorities, both at European and global level, ensuring that citizens benefit from progress made in the area of freedom, security and justice. It should also allow us to look further ahead bringing a determined and adequate European response to European and global challenges.

The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty enables the Union to demonstrate greater ambition in responding to the day-to-day concerns and aspirations of people in Europe. Firstly, the increased role of the European Parliament as co-legislator in most areas and the greater involvement of national parliaments will make the EU more accountable for its actions in the interests of the citizen and enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Union. Secondly, the introduction of qualified majority voting in the Council for most policy areas will streamline decision-making. And finally, judicial review will be improved as the European Court of Justice will assume judicial oversight of all aspects of freedom security and justice, while the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes legally binding. The Treaty gives the Union the new objectives of combating social exclusion and discrimination, and reaffirms the objective of promoting equality between women and men.

The Union must therefore be determined in responding to the expectations and concerns of our citizens. The Union must resist tendencies to treat security, justice and fundamental rights in isolation from one another. They go hand in hand in a coherent approach to meet the challenges of today and the years to come.

2. Ensuring the protection of fundamental rights

The protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which should become the compass for all EU law and policies, needs to be given full effect and its rights made tangible and effective. The Commission will apply a “Zero Tolerance Policy” as regards violations of the Charter. The Commission will reinforce its mechanisms to ensure compliance with the Charter and report on it to the European Parliament and Council. In a global society characterised by rapid technological change where information exchange knows no borders, it is particularly important that privacy must be preserved. The Union must ensure that the fundamental right to data protection is consistently applied. We need to strengthen the EU’s stance in protecting the personal data of the individual in the context of all EU policies, including law enforcement and crime prevention as well as in our international relations.

All policy instruments available will be deployed to provide a robust European response to violence against women and children, including domestic violence and female genital mutilation, to safeguard children's rights and to fight all forms of discrimination, racism, xenophobia and homophobia. The needs of those in vulnerable situations are of particular concern.

Differences in the guarantees provided to victims of crime and terrorism across the 27 Member States should be analysed and reduced with a view to increasing protection by all means available. European law should guarantee a high standard of rights for the accused, in terms of fairness of the procedures. Detention conditions, including in prisons, should also be addressed.

3. Empowering European citizens

European citizenship needs to further progress from a concept enshrined in the Treaties to become a tangible reality demonstrating in the daily lives of citizens, its added value over and above national citizenship. Citizens need to be able to benefit from their rights stemming from European integration.

Facilitating citizens' mobility is of crucial importance in the European project. Free movement is a core right of EU citizens and their family members. It needs to be rigorously enforced. Mobility should be enhanced by removing the barriers citizens still face when they decide to exercise their rights to move to a Member State other than their own to study or work, to set up a business, to start a family, or to retire. Citizens must be protected wherever they are in the world. Any EU citizen who is in a country where his or her Member State is not represented should receive consular assistance from embassies or consulates of any other Member State, on the same conditions as their nationals.

Facilitating and encouraging citizens’ participation in the democratic life of the Union is crucial for bringing the citizen’s closer to the European project. Increased turnout at European Parliament elections is a shared ambition. The right of citizens to vote and be elected for local and European elections where they reside should be further promoted and strengthened. The Citizen's Initiative is a powerful boost for European citizens' rights and the democratic legitimacy of the Union.

4. Strengthening confidence in the European judicial area

The European judicial area and the proper functioning of the single market are built on the cornerstone principle of mutual recognition. This can only function effectively on the basis of mutual trust among judges, legal professionals, businesses and citizens. Mutual trust requires minimum standards and a reinforced understanding of the different legal traditions and methods.

Establishing rights is not enough. Rights and obligations will become a reality only if they are readily accessible to those entitled to them. Individuals need to be empowered to invoke these rights wherever in the Union they happen to be.

A well functioning European judicial area benefits all Union policies, supporting their development and successful implementation. In particular, it should be put at the service of citizens and businesses so as to support economic activity in the single market, ensuring a high level of consumer protection. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the Union has now the tools to help make people's daily lives and everyday business practices easier, reconciling the needs of citizens and the single market with the diversity of legal traditions among Member States.

Union law can facilitate mobility and empower citizens to exercise their free movement rights. For international couples, it can reduce unnecessary stress when they divorce or separate and can remove the current legal uncertainty for children and their parents in cross-border situations. It can help eliminate barriers to the recognition of legal acts and lead to the mutual recognition of the effects of civil status documents. When citizens drive to another Member State and are unfortunate enough to have an accident, they need legal certainty on the limitation periods of insurance claims.

Union law can make a concrete and powerful contribution to the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy and mitigating the damage caused by the financial crisis. New EU legislation will be proposed whenever necessary and appropriate to strengthen our single market, helping businesses by removing administrative burdens and reducing transaction costs.

Cutting red tape for business is a clear priority and the cumbersome and costly exequatur process that is required to recognise and enforce a judgment in another jurisdiction should systematically be consigned to history whilst maintaining the necessary safeguards. Ensuring that cross-border debt can be recovered as easily as domestically will help businesses trust our single market and efficient insolvency proceedings can help recovery from the economic crisis. Cross-border transactions can be made easier by increasing the coherence of European contract law. Businesses are not taking sufficient advantage of the internet's potential to boost sales: Union law can help by increasing businesses' need for legal certainty and at the same time guaranteeing the highest level of consumer protection. Consumers need to be aware of their rights and provided with access to redress in cross-border cases. Finally, the increased use of alternative dispute resolution can contribute to the efficient administration of justice.

Criminal law is a relatively novel area of EU action for which the Treaty of Lisbon sets a clear legal framework. A criminal justice strategy, fully respecting subsidiarity and coherence, should guide the EU's policy for the approximation of substantive and procedural criminal law. It should be pursued in close cooperation with European Parliament, national parliaments and the Council and acknowledge that focus will remain primarily on mutual recognition and the harmonisation of offences and sanctions will be pursued for selected cases.

The administration of justice must not be impeded by unjustifiable differences between the Member States’ judicial systems: criminals should not be able to avoid prosecution and prison by crossing borders and exploiting differences between national legal systems. A solid common European procedural base is needed. A new and comprehensive system for obtaining evidence in cross-border cases and better exchange of information between Member States’ authorities on offences committed are essential tools to developing a functioning area of freedom, security and justice. The Commission will prepare the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office from Eurojust, with the responsibility to investigate, prosecute and bring to judgement offences against the Union’s financial interests. In doing so, the Commission will further reflect on the cooperation with all the actors involved, including the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

5. Ensuring the security of Europe

Europe is facing growing cross-border criminality. It is our obligation to work hand in hand with Member States, European Parliament, key third countries and the business community where appropriate, and do our utmost to ensure that EU citizens can live in a secure environment.

The Lisbon Treaty provides the Union with better tools to fight terrorism and organised crime.

An Internal Security Strategy, based upon the full respect of fundamental rights and on solidarity between Member States, will be implemented with care and firm resolve to face the growing cross-border challenges. It implies a coordinated approach to police cooperation, border management, criminal justice cooperation and civil protection. We need to address all the common security threats from terrorism and organised crime, to safety concerns related to man-made and natural disasters. Given the increasing use of new technologies, tackling efficiently those threats also requires a complementary policy ensuring the preparedness and resilience of Europe's networks and ICT infrastructure.

To be successful, this strategy needs to build on experience and lessons learnt. The time has come to assess our past approach, when the Union had to react to unexpected and tragic events, often on a case by case basis, and to capitalise on the new institutional set-up offered by the Lisbon treaty with a coherent and multidisciplinary approach.

The establishment of a strategic agenda for the exchange of information requires an overview of existing data collection, processing and data-sharing systems, with a thorough assessment of their usefulness, efficiency, effectiveness, proportionality and their respect of the right to privacy. It should also lay the ground for a coherent development of all existing and future information systems.

As a priority we need to take stock of the counter-terrorism measures put in place in recent years and assess how they can be improved to contribute to protecting our citizens and add value to Member States' action. The new institutional framework offers the Union an unprecedented opportunity to better interlink its different counter terrorism instruments.

Future measures on organised crime need to use the new institutional framework to the fullest extent possible. Trafficking in human beings, child pornography, cyber crime, financial crime, counterfeiting of means of payment and drugs trafficking, should be tackled in a comprehensive way. More effective prosecution and conviction are as important as attending to the needs of the victims of these crimes and reducing the demand for services from potential victims. Pooling Member State's law enforcement capabilities on specific drugs and routes will be a first concrete operational answer.

We also need to remove all the obstacles in the way of effective law enforcement cooperation between Member States. EU agencies and bodies such as FRONTEX, Europol and Eurojust, as well as OLAF, have a crucial role to play. They must cooperate better and be given the powers and resources necessary to achieve their goals within clearly defined roles.

The Union will pursue an integrated approach to the control of access to its territory in an enlarged Schengen area, to further facilitate mobility and ensure a high level of internal security. Visa liberalisation will be pursued in particular with neighbouring countries in order to facilitate people-to-people contacts based on clearly defined conditions.

Smart use of modern technologies in border management to complement existing tools as a part of a risk management process can also make Europe more accessible to bona fide travellers and stimulate innovation among EU industries, thus contributing to Europe's prosperity and growth, and ensure the feeling of security of Union's citizens. The coming into operation of the SIS II and VIS systems will continue to be a high priority.

Protecting citizens from the risks posed by international trade in counterfeited, prohibited and dangerous goods also requires a coordinated approach, building on the strength of customs authorities. Protection against harmful and dangerous goods must be ensured in an effective and structured manner through a control-based risk management of goods, of the supply chain and of any type of goods flows.

Our efforts to protect people will include the EU's role in crisis and disaster prevention, preparedness and response. Further assessment and necessary action at EU-level in crisis management will be an immediate priority. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism will be strengthened to improve the availability, interoperability and coordination of Member States' assistance. Prevention also needs to be enhanced. The Union will implement the solidarity clause.

6. Putting solidarity and responsibility at the heart of our response

Robust defence of migrants' fundamental rights out of respect for our values of human dignity and solidarity will enable them to contribute fully to the European economy and society. Immigration has a valuable role to play in addressing the Union's demographic challenge and in securing the EU's strong economic performance over the longer term. It has great potential to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy, by providing an additional source of dynamic growth.

During the next few years focus will be on consolidating a genuine common immigration and asylum policy. The current economic crisis should not prevent us from doing so with ambition and resolve. On the contrary, it is more necessary than ever to develop these policies, within a long-term vision of respect for fundamental rights and human dignity and to strengthen solidarity, particularly between Member States as they collectively shoulder the burden of a humane and efficient system. Once these policies consolidated, progress made should be assessed against our ambitious objectives. Further measures will be proposed as appropriate.

The Union will develop a genuine common migration policy consisting of new and flexible frameworks for the admission of legal immigrants. This enables the Union to adapt to increasing mobility and to the needs of national labour markets, while respecting Member State competences in this area.

The EU must strive for a uniform level of rights and obligations for legal immigrants comparable with that of European citizens. These rights, consolidated in an immigration code, and common rules to effectively manage family reunification are essential to maximise the positive effects of legal immigration for the benefit of all stakeholders and will strengthen the Union's competitiveness. The integration of migrants will be further pursued, safeguarding their rights whilst also underlining their own responsibilities to integrate into the societies in which they live.

The prevention and reduction of irregular immigration in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights is equally important for the credibility and success of EU polices in this area. The situation of unaccompanied children will be given special attention.

Our response to this global challenge requires genuine partnership with third countries of origin and transit and the incorporation of all migration issues in a comprehensive policy framework. The global approach to migration will thus be further pursued and implemented.

We must honour our obligation to respect the fundamental right to asylum, including the principle of "non refoulement". The establishment of the common European asylum system and the European asylum support office should ensure uniform status, high common standards of protection in the EU and a common asylum procedure, with mutual recognition as the long term goal. Solidarity will be at the heart of our asylum and resettlement policy, both between Member States and with those facing persecution around the world.

7. Contributing to a global Europe

The political objectives outlined above cannot be achieved without effective engagement with our partners in non-EU countries and international organisations. A strong external dimension, consistent with the Union’s general external action, will help us anticipate challenges and reach our objectives, including the promotion of our values and the fulfilment of our international human rights obligations.

Internal and external policies in the area of freedom, security and justice are inextricably linked. Continuity and consistency between internal and external policies are essential to produce results, as is coherence and complementarity between the Union and Member States' action.

The Lisbon Treaty offers new possibilities for the European Union to act more efficiently in external relations. Under this Treaty, the Commission has a key role to play in delivering the EU's external dimension of Justice and Home Affairs. Under this Treaty, the High Representative/Vice President of the Commission and the Commission will ensure coherence between external relations and the other aspects of the EU external action, including in working with the European External Action Service.

8. From political priorities to actions and results

Progress in the area of freedom, security and justice requires successful implementation of these political priorities. To equip itself to match the ambitions set out by the Lisbon treaty, the Commission has, for the first time, allocated responsibilities on Justice and Home Affairs to two Commissioners, one of them a Vice-President of the Commission.

Our compass will be the Charter of Fundamental Rights and our methodology will be five-fold: better integration with the other policies of the Union; improving the quality of European legislation; better implementation at national level; improving the use made of evaluation tools; and matching our political priorities with adequate financial resources, within the multiannual financial framework.

Essential to making real progress will be mutual trust. This requires the establishment of minimum standards (e.g. on procedural rights) as well as understanding of the different legal traditions and methods. A common European culture in this field, through training and Erasmus-style exchange programmes, as well as an European Law Institute, building upon existing structures and networks, can make a valuable contribution and will be actively encouraged.

Delivering legal instruments is often not enough. Ambitions should be widely discussed and results must be fully explained. It is often far from clear whether Europe’s citizens are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities. They are therefore insufficiently empowered to exercise them. Better communication will help citizens benefit from progress made at EU level and close the gap between the reality of European integration and people’s perceptions.

The attached table is a guide for the Union's action in the area of freedom, security and justice in the next five years. It aims at delivering all the political objectives set out by the European Council in the Stockholm Programme, to respond to European Parliament priorities in these areas and to meet the challenges ahead of us. It includes concrete actions with a clear timetable for adoption and implementation. The Commission regards these actions as inter-linked, indispensable and consistent with the scale of ambition the Union needs to demonstrate.

Initiatives to deliver our common political priorities should be developed and implemented with the aim of reaching the most ambitious outcome possible, in line with citizens' expectations. It is time to ensure that citizens fully benefit from progress made at European level. Successful implementation of this Action Plan depends on the political commitment of all actors concerned: the Commission as its driving force, the European Parliament and the Council when debating and enacting proposals, national parliaments in their scrutiny of subsidiarity and proportionality. The same level of commitment must guide Member States in transposing and fully implementing Union legislation, the Commission in monitoring it, and the Union Courts and the national courts in ensuring its correct application. Last but not least, the active, informed citizen for whom all this is being done is a key driver and actor in the whole process.

This Action Plan should not be seen as an agenda that is fixed once and for all. The Union must be able to react to unexpected events, swift in seizing opportunities and in anticipating and adapting to future trends. The Commission will therefore use its right of initiative whenever necessary to ensure this. The Commission will also submit a mid-term review of the implementation of the Stockholm Programme in 2012, in order to ensure that the programme remains in line with European and global developments.

The Commission invites the European Parliament and Council to endorse this Action Plan for delivering the Stockholm Programme and to actively engage in its implementation.

ANNEX

Ensuring the protection of fundamental rights

A Europe built on fundamental rights |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Recommendation to authorise negotiation of EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Communication on the Fundamental Rights policy | Commission | 2010 |

Fundamental Rights Agency Multiannual Framework to cover the domain of judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters | Commission | 2010 |

Report on the memory of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes | Commission | 2010 |

Annual Report on the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights | Commission | 2010 Ongoing |

Evaluation report on the implementation of the Council Decision 2003/335/JHA on the ‘investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes’ | Commission | 2011 |

European network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes | Commission | Ongoing |

Protecting citizen’s rights in the information society |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on a new legal framework for the protection of personal data after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty | Commission | 2010 |

New comprehensive legal framework for data protection | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on Privacy and trust in Digital Europe: ensuring citizens’ confidence in new services | Commission | 2010 |

Recommendation to authorise the negotiation of a personal data protection agreement for law enforcement purposes with the United States of America | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on core elements for personal data protection in agreements between the European Union and third countries for law enforcement purposes | Commission | 2012 |

Living together in an area that respects diversity and protects the most vulnerable |

Racism and xenophobia |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Implementation of the Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on racism and xenophobia | Member States Commission | November 2010 Ongoing |

Communication on the fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination | Commission | 2011 |

Report on the implementation of the Race Discrimination Directive 2000/43/EC | Commission | 2012 |

Report on the implementation of the Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on racism and xenophobia | Commission | 2013 |

Rights of the child |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the strategy on the rights of the child (2010 – 2014), on the basis of an evaluation of the impact of the EU instruments, both internal and external, affecting children's right | Commission | 2010 |

Initiatives on the possibilities to use family mediation at international level | Commission | 2012 |

Implement Council conclusions on child abduction alert mechanisms | Member States | 2011 |

Regulation on EU hotlines for missing children | Commission | 2012 |

Vulnerable groups |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the social and economic integration of the Roma in Europe | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Communication on a strategy to combat violence against women, domestic violence and female genital mutilation, to be followed up by an EU action plan | Commission | 2011 - 2012 |

Report on the application of the 2000 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults, assessing also the need for additional proposals as regards vulnerable adults | Commission | 2014 |

Practical support and promotion of best practices to help Member States combat discrimination on the grounds of Article 10 of the TFUE, including concerning Roma. | Commission | Ongoing |

Accession to the 2000 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults | Member States | Ongoing |

Victims of crime, including terrorism |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Legislative proposal on a comprehensive instrument on the protection of victims and action plan on practical measures including developing a European Protection Order | Commission | 2011 |

Rights of the individual in criminal proceedings |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Legislative proposal on Translation and Interpretation | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Legislative proposal on Information on Rights and Information about the Charges | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposal on Legal Advice and Legal Aid | Commission | 2011 |

Legislative proposal on Communication with Relatives, Employers and Consular Authorities | Commission | 2012 |

Legislative proposal on Special Safeguards for Suspected or Accused Persons who are Vulnerable | Commission | 2013 |

Green paper on whether elements of minimum procedural rights for accused and suspect persons, other than those covered by the previous legislative proposals, need to be addressed | Commission | 2014 |

Detention |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Green paper on detention issues and necessary follow up | Commission | 2011 |

Report on the implementation of the Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to judgements in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of liberty for the purposes of their enforcement in the European Union | Commission | 2013 |

Empowering European citizens

Full exercise of the right to free movement |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Follow-up of the implementation of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right to free movement | Commission | Ongoing |

Second report on implementation and application of Directive 2004/38/EC | Commission | 2013 |

The Europe 2020's flagship initiative "Youth on the Move" | Commission | 2010 |

Entitlement to protection in non-Member States |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on stocktaking and future developments towards a more efficient consular protection for EU citizens | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposal on improving financial compensation of consular protection in crisis situations | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal for a directive establishing the coordination and cooperation measures necessary to facilitate consular protection (amending Decision 1995/553/EC) | Commission | 2011 |

Participation in the democratic life of the Union |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Citizenship Report including analysis and remedies for obstacles to free movement, including a report on the implementation of EU law in the 2009 European Parliament elections | Commission | 2010 |

Reports on the implementation of Directive 94/80/EC on participation of EU citizens in municipal elections and on granting derogation pursuant to Article 22(1) of the TFEU | Commission | 2011 |

Legislative proposal amending Directive 93/109/EC on EP elections, with a view to reduce administrative burden on citizens and on national administrations | Commission | 2011-2012 |

Report from the Commission to the European Council on national practices on elections for the European Parliament | Commission | 2012 |

Report on granting derogation pursuant to Article 22(2) of the TFEU, presented under Article 14(3) of Directive 93/109/EC on EP elections | Commission | 2012 |

Citizenship Report including further analysis and remedies for obstacles to free movement | Commission | 2013 |

Strengthening confidence in the European judicial area

Furthering the implementation of mutual recognition |

Criminal law |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Implementation reports on the Framework Decision 2006/783/JHA on mutual recognition of confiscation orders | Commission | 2010 2013 |

Report on the implementation of the Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA on the European Arrest Warrant, and appropriate follow-up | Commission | 2010 2014 |

Legislative proposal on a comprehensive regime on obtaining evidence in criminal matters based on the principle of mutual recognition and covering all types of evidence | Commission | 2011 |

Legislative proposal to introduce common standards for gathering evidence in criminal matters in order to ensure its admissibility | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal for a Regulation providing Eurojust with powers to initiate investigations, making Eurojust's internal structure more efficient and involving the European Parliament and national Parliaments in the evaluation of Eurojust's activities | Commission | 2012 |

Legislative proposal on mutual recognition of disqualifications | Commission | 2013 |

Communication on the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) from Eurojust | Commission | 2013 |

Legislative proposal on mutual recognition of financial penalties, including those related to road traffic offences | Commission | 2011 |

Civil law |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Legislative Proposal for the revision of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I) | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative Proposal for the Council Decision on the enhanced cooperation as regards applicable law on divorce (Rome III) | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Proposal for a Regulation on the conflicts of laws in matters concerning matrimonial property rights, including the question of jurisdiction and mutual recognition, and for Regulation on the property consequences of the separation of couples from other types of unions | Commission | 2010 |

Compendium of existing Union legislation on civil justice cooperation | Commission | 2010 |

Consultation on collective redress instruments in EU legislation | Commission | 2010 |

Compendium of existing Union legislation on consumer law | Commission | 2011 |

Commission Recommendation on registration of wills, following the adoption by the Council and European Parliament of the Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and authentic instruments in matters of succession and the creation of a European Certificate of Succession | Commission | 2013 |

Strengthening mutual trust |

Improving the tools |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

European Judicial Network (civil matters) - implementing the EJN amending decision (Decision 568/2009/EC) - Improving the EJN website in line with the European e-Justice Portal developments - Reporting on the activities of the European Judicial network | Commission | Ongoing |

European Judicial Network (Criminal Matters) - implementing Council Decision 2008/976/JHA on the EJN - improving dissemination of up-to-date information on the implementation of EU instruments on judicial co-operation | Commission Member States Member States and EJN | Ongoing |

Implementation |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Handbook on the implementation of the EU-US mutual legal assistance and extradition agreements | Commission | 2010 |

Practice Guide on the European Payment Order (Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006) | Commission | 2010 |

Practice Guide on the European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation (EC) No 861/2007) | Commission | 2011 |

Fact sheets on Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 on maintenance obligations | Commission | 2011 |

Fact sheets on Directive 2008/52/EC on mediation | Commission | 2012 |

Handbook on the Framework Decision 2003/577/JHA concerning freezing of property | Commission | 2012 |

Handbook on the Framework Decision 2005/214/JHA concerning financial penalties | Commission | 2012 |

Developing a core of common minimum rules |

Criminal law |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Legislative proposal on the approximation of customs infringements and penalties | Commission | 2012 |

Legislative proposals supplementing Directive 2008/99/EC on the protection of environment through criminal law and Directive 2009/123/EC on ship-source pollution | Commission | 2012 |

Civil law |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Report on application of Regulation (EC) No 1393/2007 on service of documents in civil and commercial matters, if necessary followed by a proposal for revision which could include the establishment of common minimum standards | Commission | 2011 2012 |

Report on application of Regulation (EC) No 1206/2001 on the taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters, if necessary followed by a proposal for revision which could include the establishment of common minimum standards | Commission | 2012 2013 |

Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, including establishment of common minimum standards in relation to the recognition of decisions on parental responsibility, following a report on its application | Commission | 2011 2013 |

Report on the functioning of the present EU regime on civil procedural law across borders. | Commission | 2013 |

Green paper on the minimum standards for civil procedures and necessary follow up | Commission | 2013 |

Legislative proposal aimed at improving the consistency of existing Union legislation in the field of civil procedural law | Commission | 2014 |

The benefits for citizens of a European judicial area |

Providing easier access to justice |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Opening of the European e-Justice Portal and preparation for future releases | Commission | 2010 |

Green paper on the free circulation of the documents: civil status documents, authentic acts and the simplification of legalisation | Commission | 2010 |

Regulation on limitation periods on cross border road traffic accidents | Commission | 2011 |

Report on the application of Directive 2003/8/EC on legal aid | Commission | 2011 |

Communication/Green Paper on the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the EU | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposal on mutual recognition of the effects of certain civil status documents (e.g. relating to birth, affiliation, adoption, name) | Commission | 2013 |

Legislative proposal for dispensing with the formalities for the legalisation of documents between the Member States | Commission | 2013 |

Communication on the implementation of the mediation directive | Commission | 2013 |

Supporting economic activity |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the European contract law – Method towards the adoption of the Common Frame of Reference | Commission | 2010 |

Proposal for a Regulation on improving the efficiency of the enforcement of judgements in the European Union: the attachment of bank accounts | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposal on the Common Frame of Reference | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal for Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 on insolvency proceedings, following a report on its application | Commission | 2012 2013 |

Proposal for a Regulation on improving the efficiency of the enforcement of judgements in the European Union: transparency of debtor's assets | Commission | 2013 |

Green paper on private international law aspects, including applicable law, relating to companies, associations and other legal persons | Commission | 2014 |

Implementation reports and follow-up: |

Report on the assignment of claims under Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 on the law applicable to contractual relations (Rome I) | Commission | 2010 |

Report on the application of Regulation (EC) No 805/2008 on the European Enforcement Order for uncontested claims | Commission | 2011 |

Report on the application of Regulation (EC) No 804/2007 on the applicable law on non-contractual obligations (Rome II) | Commission | 2012 |

Report on application of Regulation (EC) No 861/2007 establishing a European Small Claims Procedure | Commission | 2013 |

Report on application of Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006 creating a European order for payment procedure | Commission | 2013 |

Report on the applicable law on insurance contracts under Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 on the law applicable to contractual relations (Rome I) | Commission | 2013 |

Directive on consumer rights (COM(2008) 614 final) | Commission | Ongoing |

Modernisation of the Directive 90/314/EEC on package travel | Commission | 2011 |

Modernisation of the Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices | Commission | 2011 |

Modernisation of the Directive 98/6/EC on unit pricing | Commission | 2012 |

Modernisation of the Directive 2006/114/EC on misleading and comparative advertising | Commission | 2012 |

Increasing the EU’s international presence in the legal field |

Civil law |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Recommendation for an authorisation to negotiate an agreement between the EU and Norway, Iceland and Switzerland on the judicial cooperation concerning service of documents and taking of evidence | Commission | 2012 |

Recommendation for an authorisation to negotiate an agreement between the EU and Norway, Iceland and Switzerland regarding an additional protocol on maintenance issues to the 2007 Lugano Convention | Commission | 2010 |

Recommendation for an authorisation to negotiate, updating the current mandate, on the UNIDROIT Space Protocol | Commission | 2010 |

Communication defining strategy for the EU's international presence in the field of civil law | Commission | 2011 |

Proposals on the authorisation of certain Member States to accede to the Hague Convention on Service of Documents and on Taking of Evidence, in the interest of the EU | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal on the conclusion by the EU of the Luxembourg Protocol on Railway Rolling Stock | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal on the conclusion by the EU of the 2005 Hague Choice of Court Convention | Commission | 2012 |

Assessment of the participation of the third countries to the Lugano Convention | Commission | 2012 |

Proposal on the signature and conclusion by the EU of the Protocol on Space Equipment | Commission | 2013 |

Proposal for the accession of the EU to UNIDROIT | Commission | 2014 |

Criminal law |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on international aspects of judicial cooperation in criminal matters | Commission | 2013 |

Ensuring the security of Europe

Internal Security Strategy |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the Internal Security Strategy | Commission | 2010 |

Upgrading the tools for the job |

Managing the flow of information |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the overview on information collection and exchange | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposal on a common EU approach to the use of passenger name record data for law enforcement purposes | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to third countries | Commission | 2010 |

Proposals for authorising the negotiation and negotiation of agreements on Passenger Name Record data between the European Union and relevant third countries | Commission | Ongoing 2011-2014 |

Evaluation report of the application of the Data Retention Directive 2006/24/EC, if necessary followed by a proposal for revision | Commission | 2010 2012 |

Report on the implementation of the Framework Decision 2006/960/JHA (Swedish initiative) on the exchange of information between the law enforcement authorities | Commission | 2011 |

Report on the implementation of the Decision 2008/615/JHA (Prüm Decision) on the interconnection of DNA, fingerprints and vehicle information databases | Commission | 2012 |

Communication on the European Information Exchange Model, followed by an Action Plan | Commission | 2012 2013 |

Communication on enhancing the traceability of users of pre-paid communication services for law enforcement purposes | Commission | 2012 |

Green paper on commercial information relevant to law enforcement and information exchange models | Commission | 2012 |

Police code, including the codification of the main instruments of access to information | Commission | 2014 |

Mobilising the necessary technological tools |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Legislative proposal for a European register of convicted third countries nationals | Commission | 2011 |

Proposals on implementing measures on the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on the feasibility of setting up a EU Police Records Index System (EPRIS) | Commission | 2012 |

Communication on possible measures to promote the exchange of information between Member States, including Europol, on violent travelling offenders in connection with major events | Commission | 2012 |

Communication on ECRIS evaluation and on its future development extending it to exchange information on supervision measures | Commission | 2014 |

Effective policies |

More effective European law enforcement cooperation |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Proposal for a Regulation implementing Article 10 of the United Nations Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components, and ammunition, on "General requirements for export, import and transit licensing or authorization systems" | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on the status of cooperation between the ESDP police mission and Europol | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal for a Regulation on Europol | Commission | 2013 |

Proposal on the conclusion of the United Nations Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components, and ammunition on behalf of the Union | Commission | 2012 |

Proposal on information exchange between Europol, Eurojust and Frontex | Commission | 2011 |

Evaluation of the Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA on accreditation of forensic laboratory activities and reflections on possibilities to develop common quality standards within the forensic field | Commission | 2013 |

Communication on the improvement of customs and police cooperation in the EU, including reflections on under-cover officers, on Police Cooperation and Customs Centres, on an EU approach to Intelligence led policing, and on common actions to improve operational police cooperation: assessment of state of play and possible recommendations | Commission | 2014 |

In order to be able to analyse the threats at European level, a methodology based on common parameters should be established. Full use should be made of Europol, the Joint Situation Centre (SitCen) and Eurojust in the fight against terrorism. | Commission Member States | Ongoing |

More effective crime prevention |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Evaluation of the functioning of the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) and legislative proposal on the establishment of a Observatory for the Prevention of Crime (OPC) | Commission | 2013 |

Promote the concept of preventing and fighting organised crime through an administrative approach | Commission | Ongoing |

Development of a customs risk management framework in order to prevent organised crime activities linked to goods | Commission | Ongoing |

Statistics |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

New Action Plan on development of statistics on crime and criminal justice 2011-2015 | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal for a European classification of crime types | Commission | 2013 |

EU Security Survey | Commission | 2013 |

Collection of comparable statistics on selected crime areas: money laundering, cybercrime, corruption, trafficking in human beings | Commission | Ongoing |

Protection against serious and organised crime |

Combating serious and organised crime |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Report on the implementation of the Framework Decision 2008/841/JHA on fight against organised crime | Commission | 2012 |

Trafficking in human beings |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Set up of EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator (ATC) within the Commission | Commission | 2010 |

Proposal for a Directive on combating trafficking of human beings | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Report on the application of Directive 2004/81/EC on the residence permit issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings or who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration who cooperate with the competent authorities, and possible follow-up | Commission | 2010 |

Report on the implementation of the Action Plan on trafficking in human beings 2005-2009 | Commission | 2010 |

Report on the implementation the Action Oriented Paper on trafficking in human beings of November 2009 | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on a new integrated strategy on fighting trafficking in human beings, and on measures to protect and assist victims (including the development of compensation schemes, safe return and assistance with reintegration into society in their country of origin if they return voluntarily) using ad hoc cooperation agreements with specific third countries | Commission | 2011 |

Guidelines for consular services and border guards for the identification of victims of trafficking of human beings | Commission | 2012 |

Sexual exploitation of children and child pornography |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Proposal for a Directive on combating sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Promote partnerships with the private sector, namely the financial sector in order to disrupt the money transfers related to websites with child abuse content | Commission | Ongoing |

Promote relevant measures under the Safer Internet Programme 2009-2013 | Commission | Ongoing |

Cyber-crime and Network and Information Security |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Measures aiming at a reinforced and high level Network and Information Security Policy, including legislative initiatives such as the one on modernised Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) as well as other measures allowing faster reactions in the event of cyber attacks | Council Commission European Parliament | 2010-2012 |

Legislative proposal on attacks against information systems | Commission | 2010 |

Creation of a cybercrime alert platform at European level | Europol Commission | 2010-2012 |

Develop a European model agreement on public private partnerships in the fight against cybercrime and for cyber security | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on counterfeit medicines | Commission | 2013 |

Measures, including legislative proposals to establish rules on jurisdiction on cyberspace at European and International levels | Commission | 2013 |

Ratification of the 2001 Council of Europe Cyber-crime Convention | Member States |

Economic crime and corruption |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Report on implementation of the Decision 2007/845/JHA on asset recovery offices | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on a comprehensive policy against corruption in Member States, including the establishment of an evaluation mechanism as well as presenting modalities of cooperation with the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) for that purpose | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal of a new legal framework for asset recovery | Commission | 2011 |

Legislative proposal on criminal measures aimed at ensuring the enforcement of intellectual property rights (replacing proposal COM(2006) 168 final) | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No 1383/2003 concerning customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain intellectual property rights and the measures to be taken against goods found to have infringed such rights | Commission | 2010 |

Reconduction and implementation of the Action Plan concerning EU-China Customs cooperation on intellectual property rights | Commission Member States | Ongoing |

Communication on a European Strategy for financial investigation and financial and criminal analysis | Commission | 2012 |

Legislative proposal updating the European criminal law framework on money laundering | Commission | 2012 |

Adoption and follow-up of a Commission report on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 on controls of cash entering or leaving the Community | Commission | 2010 - 2011 |

Assessment of the need for further measures to enhance transparency of legal persons and legal arrangements/trusts, aiming at the identification of the beneficiary owner, to be followed up by legislative proposals | Commission | 2012 |

Guidelines on new tools for recovery of proceeds of crime, such as the creation of national registers of bank accounts | Commission | 2012 |

European strategy on identity management , including legislative proposals on criminalisation of identity theft and on electronic identity (eID) and secure authentication systems | Commission | 2012 |

Establishment of a sustainable institutional framework for FIU.NET (EU Financial Intelligence Units Network), including possible database on suspicious transactions, following a feasibility study | Commission | 2013 |

First evaluation of anti corruption policies of the Member States | Commission | 2013 |

Report on the convergence of sanctions in the financial services area | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on law enforcement aspects of the fight against counterfeiting | Commission | 2013 |

Drugs |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Legislative proposals amending Decision 2005/387/JHA on new psychoactive substances, following its assessment | Commission | 2010 |

Conclude the negotiations of an EU-Russia Agreement on the control of trade in drug precursors | Commission | 2010 |

Evaluation of the current EU Strategy on Drugs and EU Drugs Action Plan, including on the coherence between internal and external EU drug policy, and renewal of the Strategy and Action Plan | Commission | 2010-2012 |

Legislative proposals to amend the EU legislation on drug precursors in order to reinforce controls in certain areas | Commission | 2011 |

Communication campaign and public events around the European Action on Drugs, following an assessment in 2010 of its functioning | Commission | Ongoing |

Communication on permanent EU structures for operational coordination of drug actions outside the EU, in particular in West Africa | Commission | 2012 |

Financial and policy support for international organisations, security platforms and similar initiatives fighting drug and drug precursors trafficking | Commission | Ongoing |

Implementation of the Afghanistan Action Oriented Paper on drug trafficking, and pursue dialogue with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries in a comprehensive manner at bi-lateral and bi-regional level | Commission | Ongoing |

Terrorism |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on stocktaking of Counter-Terrorism measures | Commission | 2010 |

Recommendation to authorise the negotiation of a long term agreement between the European Union and the United States of America on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data for the purpose of the fight against terrorism | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Implementation of the EU Action Plan on violent Radicalisation (non-legislative measures to prevent the distribution of violent radical content on the Internet; website on violent radicalisation; development of benchmarking tools to measure the effectiveness of counter-radicalisation initiatives) | Commission | 2010 |

Further development of the external aspects of radicalisation phenomenon | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposal on precursors to explosives | Commission | 2010 |

Public-private dialogue on illegal online activities related to terrorism and other crimes | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on voluntary anti-terrorist financing guidelines for EU based non profit organisations | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on a concerted effort at EU level to enable, reinforce and disseminate to the broader public currents and ideologies that reject extremism and violence | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on a strategy for a holistic approach of radicalisation, on the basis of an evaluation of the effectiveness of national policies to counter radicalisation in vulnerable group | Commission | 2011 |

Report on the implementation of the Framework Decision 2008/919/JHA on Terrorism | Commission | 2011 |

Report on non-legislative measures to combat the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on the feasibility of an European Terrorist Finance Tracking Program | Commission | 2011 |

Evaluation of the EU Explosives Action Plan and follow-up measures | Commission | 2011 2012 |

Legislative proposal on security vetting of persons having access to CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) or explosives | Commission | 2011-2012 |

Assessment of alternative and new payment methods with a view to their potential abuse for terrorist financing purposes | Commission | 2012 |

Introduction of Mutual Recognition customs security agreements between the EU and identified partner countries to protect the International supply chain and provide cross border benefits to each others Authorised Economic Operators. | Commission | 2010/11 |

Communication on measures to improve feedback to financial institutions regarding the outcome of their cooperation in the fight against terrorism financing | Commission | 2014 |

Development of common risk criteria and standard for the security of goods | Commission | ongoing |

Improvement of the fight against illicit use of dual use goods | Commission | ongoing |

Comprehensive and effective EU Disaster Management: reinforcing the EU's capacities to prevent, prepare for and respond to all kinds of disasters |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Report on the evaluation of EU Civil Protection Policy Instruments | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on the reinforcement of the EU's Disaster Response Capacity | Commission | 2010 |

Reinforcing the Monitoring and Information Centre's (MIC) analytical and coordination capacity | Commission | 2010 onwards |

Proposal on the implementation of the solidarity clause | Commission | 2010-2011 |

Implementation of the 2009 EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear threats (CBRN) Action Plan (licensing scheme for certain high-risk chemicals; European approach to detection of CBRN, including standardisation and certification of detection equipment, minimum detection standards for CBRN) | Commission | 2010-2014 |

Evaluate the pilot-phase of the Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN) system in preparation of the decision on further progress | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposals on renewal of the Civil Protection Mechanism and the Civil Protection Financial Instrument | Commission | 2011 |

Report on the implementation of Directive 2008/114 on Identification of European Critical Infrastructure, followed by a review of the Directive including considering the extension of the scope | Commission | 2011 2012 |

Comprehensive progress report on the implementation of the CBRN Action Plan | Commission | 2011 |

Overview of the natural and man-made risks that the EU may face in the future | Commission | 2012 |

Peer evaluation programme on Member State practices and approaches in the area of CBRN security | Commission | 2012 |

Communication on third party cooperation in relation to Critical Infrastructure Programme (CIP), Explosives and CBRN | Commission | 2012 |

CBRN Resilience Programme in the field of civil protection | Commission | 2012 |

Access to Europe in a globalised world |

Integrated management of the external borders |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Proposal to amend the Frontex Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 | Commission | 2010 (adopted) |

Second progress report on the European Border Surveillance System (Eurosur) | Commission, | 2010 |

Frontex to establish regional and/or specialised offices | FRONTEX | 2010 |

Development of a customs approach to protecting citizens' safety from the risks posed by international trade in dangerous goods | Commission | 2010 |

Legislative proposal amending the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EC) No 562/2006) | Commission | 2010-2011 |

Legislative proposal to set up Entry Exit System (EES) | Commission | 2011 |

Legislative proposal to set up Registered Traveller Programme (RTP) | Commission | 2011 |

European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to develop methods to better identify those who are in need of international protection in mixed flows, and to cooperate with Frontex wherever possible | EASO | 2011 |

Legislative proposals on Eurosur development | Commission | 2011 |

Adoption of guidelines for customs controls in the area of product safety | Commission Member States | 2011 |

Development and entry into operation of the Schengen Information System II (SIS II) | Commission Member States | December 2011 or 2013, depending on the technical solution to be followed |

Start of operations of the Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice | 2012 |

Communication on the better cooperation, coordination, integration and rationalisation of the different checks carried out at the external borders with a view to twin the objective of facilitating access and improving security | Commission | 2012 |

Communication on the long term development of FRONTEX including the feasibility of the creation of a European system of border guards | Commission | 2014 |

Use of the CRMS (Community Risk Management System) in order to exchange risk information between customs offices at the border and further development of the common risk assessment, criteria and standards for management, security and safety at the external borders | Commission | ongoing |

Strengthened cooperation of ports, airports and land borders on all matters of relevance for the management of the external border | Commission | ongoing |

Visa policy |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Finalisation of visa dialogues with Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina and launching of a visa dialogue with Kosovo* *Under UN Security Council Resolution 1244/99 | Commission | 2010 |

Handbook on the practical application of the Visa Code and regular updates | Commission | 2010 Ongoing |

Negotiation, signature and conclusion of Visa Facilitation Agreements with third countries | Commission | Ongoing |

Development and entry into operation of the Visa Information System (VIS) and gradual roll out of the VIS | Commission Member States | December 2010 |

Communication on Regional consular cooperation programmes and on the setting up of common visa application centres | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on the possibility of introducing an EU-ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on the evaluation of the implementation of the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) | Commission | 2013 |

Communication on a new concept of the European visa policy and assessing the possibility of establishing a common European issuing mechanism for short term visas | Commission | 2014 |

Evaluation of the VIS | Commission | 2014 |

Follow up of Visa Reciprocity (negotiation and conclusion of visa waiver agreements, regular visa reciprocity reports) | Commission | Ongoing |

Regular reviews of the list of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders and propose periodically revisions of Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 | Commission | Ongoing |

Regular meetings of the Joint Committees monitoring the implementation of visa facilitation and readmission agreements with third countries | Commission | Ongoing |

Putting solidarity and responsibility at the heart of our response

A EUROPE OF RESPONSIBILITY, SOLIDARITY AND PARTNERSHIP IN MIGRATION AND ASYLUM MATTERS |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on increased coherence between immigration Policy and other relevant EU policies, in particular on how to strengthen the link between the development of migration policy and the Europe 2020 strategy | Commission | 2011 |

Annual Reports on Immigration and Asylum (implementation of the European Pact and as from 2011 on the Stockholm Programme) | Commission | Ongoing |

Statistics |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Measures aiming at: - the adoption by the European Statistical System Committee of a conceptual framework and work programme for the development of statistics on migration and for the mainstreaming of migration topics across social and economic statistics - the Development of additional disaggregation to be applied to statistics on asylum, on residence permits issued to third-country nationals and on enforcement of immigration legislation, possibly including a proposal for a Commission Regulation implementing Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 | Commission Member States | 2010 - 2011 |

Report on the application of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 311/76 on the compilation of statistics on foreign workers | Commission | 2012 |

A dynamic and comprehensive migration policy |

Consolidating, developing and implementing the EU Global Approach to Migration |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the evaluation and future development of the Global Approach to Migration | Commission | 2011 |

Pursuing EU political dialogue missions on migration as a way to engage dialogue on this issue with third countries falling under the Global Approach | Commission Member States | Ongoing |

Launching of migration profile processes (including capacity building and the use of the migration profile as a tool for policy definition, cooperation programming, evaluation) with key countries | Commission | Ongoing |

Further development of mobility partnerships | Commission | Ongoing |

Further establishment of cooperation platforms facilitating the coordination among relevant actors | Commission | Ongoing |

Enhancing migration dialogue within the Eastern Partnership | Commission | Ongoing |

Pursuing and improving the implementation of the EU/Africa Partnership on migration, mobility and employment and the preparation of a EU-Africa Senior Official Meeting on this partnership during the second semester 2010 | Commission | Ongoing |

Concretising the follow-up of the Rabat/Paris Process through the implementation of the Paris Cooperation programme and the preparation of the Dakar Conference in 2011 | Commission | 2010-2011 |

Developing the EU/LAC dialogue on migration | Commission | Ongoing |

Enhancing cooperation with India, Afghanistan and Pakistan on migration issues, as well as with Central Asia, on a regional basis. | Commission | Ongoing |

Migration and development |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the effects of climate change on international migration, including its potential effects on immigration to the European Union | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on maximising the positive and minimising the negative aspects of immigration on Development (circular migration, remittances including the feasibility of creating a common EU portal on remittances; development of Diaspora networks and promoting the participation of migrant communities to development projects in the countries of origin, Migrants' rights, Brain drain) | Commission | 2010 |

Support the establishment of a migration observatory network in ACP countries | Commission | Ongoing |

Supporting third countries in defining and implementing their migration policy through our cooperation in particular within sub-Saharan Africa, namely through the strengthening of institutional capacities for improved migration management and governance, as well as the possible opening of new migration Centre in key African countries | Commission |

A concerted policy in keeping with national labour-market requirements |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Proposal for a Directive on conditions of admission of third country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer | Commission | 2010 |

Proposal for a Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of seasonal employment | Commission | 2010 |

Report on the application of Directive 2004/114/EC on the conditions of admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service, followed by a proposal for a modification of the Directive | Commission | 2010 2011 |

Report on the Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents and possible follow-up | Commission | 2011 |

Report on Directive 2005/71/EC on a specific procedure for admitting third-country nationals for the purposes of scientific research and possible follow-up | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on addressing labour shortages through migration in EU Member States | Commission | 2012 |

Report on the application of Directive 2009/50/EC on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment | Commission | 2014 |

Further development of the European Migration Network with a view to better informing policy choices, which also takes account of recent developments | Commission | Ongoing |

Proactive policies for migrants and their rights |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Green Paper on the right to family reunification | Commission | 2010 |

Proposal for a modification of Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification | Commission | 2012 |

Immigration code - Consolidation of legislation in the area of legal immigration taking into account the evaluation of the existing legislation, needs for simplification and where necessary extend the existing provisions to categories of workers currently not covered by EU legislation | Commission | 2013 |

Integration |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Launch of the third edition of the 'Handbook on Integration for policy-makers and practitioners' | Commission | 2010 |

Report to the 2010 Ministerial Conference on Integration | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on an EU agenda for integration, including the development of a coordination mechanism | Commission | 2011 |

Effective policies to combat illegal immigration |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the evaluation of readmission agreements and on the development of a coherent strategy on readmission taking into account the overall relations with the country concerned, including a common approach towards third countries that do not cooperate in readmitting their own nationals | Commission | 2010 |

Communication on the evaluation on the common policy on return and on its future development (including support measures for return and reintegration of persons readmitted, capacity building in third countries; disseminating information in destination countries regarding returning and reintegration opportunities, network of liaison officers in countries of origin and transit) | Commission | 2011 |

Legislative proposal amending Directive 2002/90/EC defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence (and possibly merge with Framework Decision 2002/946/JHA on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence; and extending existing provisions) | Commission | 2012 |

Report on Directive 2009/52/EC providing for minimum standards on sanctions and measures against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals | Commission | 2014 |

Report on the implementation of the return Directive 2008/115/EC | Commission | 2014 |

Further efforts on negotiating and concluding readmission agreements with relevant third countries and exploration of the possibilities of concluding readmission agreements with other third countries | Commission | Ongoing |

Unaccompanied minors |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on an Action plan on unaccompanied minors in the migration process | Commission | 2010 |

Asylum: a common area of protection and solidarity |

A common area of protection |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Further develop a common educational platform for national asylum officials, building on in particular the European Asylum Curriculum | EASO | 2011 |

Communication on Eurodac development, namely on the feasibility on its development into a supporting tool for the entire Common European Asylum System (CEAS) | Commission | 2012 |

Communication on the appropriateness, the possibilities and the difficulties as well as the legal and practical implications of joint processing of asylum applications within the Union | Commission | 2014 |

Report of the Commission on the legal and practical consequences of the EU's accession to the Geneva Convention and its 1967 Protocol | Commission | 2013 |

First evaluation report on the EASO's impact on practical cooperation and on the Common European Asylum System | Commission | 2013 |

Commission's communication on a framework for the transfer of protection of beneficiaries of international protection and mutual recognition of asylum decisions | Commission | 2014 |

Development of a common methodology with a view to reducing disparities of asylum decisions | EASO |

Sharing of responsibilities and solidarity between the Member States |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Establishing a mechanism to review the Member States' national asylum systems and identify the issues related to capacities which will enable Member States to support each other in building capacity | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on enhanced intra-EU solidarity | Commission | 2011 |

Evaluation and development of procedures for facilitation of the secondment of officials in order to help those Member States facing particular pressures of asylum seekers | EASO | 2011 |

The external dimension of asylum |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Establish strategic partnership with UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) | Commission | 2011 |

Mid-term evaluation of the EU Resettlement Programme | Commission | 2012 |

Communication on new approaches concerning access to asylum procedures targeting main transit countries | Commission | 2013 |

Proposal on how to improve the EU Resettlement Programme | Commission | 2014 |

Annual Reports on EU resettlement efforts | Commission | Ongoing |

Launching and developing new Regional Protection Programmes, including in the horn of Africa | Commission | Ongoing |

Contributing to a global Europe

Europe in a globalised world – the external dimension of freedom, security and justice |

The external dimension of the EU's policy in the area of freedom, security and justice is increasingly interrelated with its internal aspects and crucial to the successful implementation of the objectives of the Stockholm programme. The Union must continue to ensure its effective and coherent implementation of the external dimension of JLS policies, and also to conduct regular evaluations in this area. |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Regular reporting on the state of implementation of the external dimension of the Stockholm Programme | Commission | 2011-2014 |

A reinforced external dimension |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Foster JLS expertise in priority EU delegations through providing adequate information and training on JLS policies, to the EU delegations in third countries, including by placing JLS experts in EU delegations in some relevant third countries | Commission | 2010 - 2014 |

EU Member States’ Liaison officers should be encouraged to further strengthen their cooperation, sharing of information and best practices | Member States Council Commission | 2010-2014 |

Report on ways to ensure complementary between the EU and Member States' action | Commission | 2011 |

See section Ensuring the security of Europe for relevant action on cooperation between the ESDP police mission and Europol |

Human rights |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on a Human Rights Action Plan for the EU to promote its values in the external dimension of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) policies | Commission | 2011 |

Continued thematic priorities with new tools |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

See section Ensuring the security of Europe for relevant actions on possible cooperation agreements with third countries to enhance the fight against trafficking and smuggling and for actions to prevent radicalisation and recruitment, as well as the protection of critical infrastructures |

Agreements with third countries |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

See section Ensuring the protection of fundamental rights for relevant actions on a coherent legislative framework for the Union for personal data transfers to third countries for law enforcement purposes; and see section Strengthening confidence in the European judicial area for relevant actions on agreements with third countries, in particular as regards judicial cooperation in civil and criminal law |

Geographical priorities and international organisations |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Western Balkans |

Further address the reform of the judiciary and the fight against corruption and organised crime in the enlargement process, in particular through further strengthening of the monitoring mechanism and targeted assistance | Commission | 2010 |

See section Ensuring the security of Europe for relevant actions on the finalisation of visa dialogues with Western Balkans |

Turkey |

Action plan for cooperation with Turkey | Commission | 2010 |

See section Putting solidarity and responsibility at the heart of our response for relevant actions on EU readmission negotiations with Turkey |

European Neighbourhood Policy - Eastern Partnership |

Action plan for Eastern Partnership countries on JHA aspects, including mobility-related issues such as visa, including gradual steps towards visa liberalisation as a long term goal for individual partner countries on a case by case basis, migration, border management, as well as security-related aspects, through dialogue with partner countries | Commission | 2010 |

See section Ensuring the security of Europe regarding visa facilitation agreements with Eastern Partnership countries |

Actions to promote stability and security in the Black Sea Region based on the Black Sea Synergy regional cooperation initiative. These activities will be complementary to those envisaged under the Eastern Partnership |

European Neighbourhood Policy - Union for the Mediterranean |

Plan on the Union for the Mediterranean, enhancing the work started in the context of the Barcelona process and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, in particular regarding migration (maritime), border surveillance, preventing and fighting drug trafficking, civil protection, law enforcement and judicial cooperation. | Commission | 2010 |

See section Putting solidarity and responsibility at the heart of our response for relevant actions on EU readmission negotiations with Morocco, Algeria and Egypt |

USA |

Follow-up to the EU-US joint statement on enhancing transatlantic cooperation in the area of justice, freedom and security of 28 October 2009 | Commission | Ongoing |

See section Ensuring the protection of fundamental rights for relevant actions on an EU-US agreement on personal data protection for law enforcement purposes; section Strengthening confidence in the European judicial area on the implementation of the EU-US mutual legal assistance and extradition agreements; section Ensuring the security of Europe on a long term agreement between the EU and the USA on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data for the purpose of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program; on the further development of the external aspects of radicalisation phenomenon, in particular with the USA; strengthening the EU-US judicial and police cooperation in the fight against cybercrime |

Russia |

Implementation of the Road Map for Common Space of Freedom, Security and Justice | Commission | Ongoing |

See section Ensuring the security of Europe or relevant actions on negotiation of a revised EU Russia visa facilitation agreement and on the monitoring of the implementation of the EU-Russia visa facilitation and readmission agreements; and on the negotiations of a Drug precursors Agreement; |

EU-Africa |

See section Ensuring the security of Europe for action on anti-trafficking in West Africa; section Putting solidarity and responsibility at the heart of our response for relevant actions on the follow-up of the Rabat/Paris Process an on the implementation of the EU/Africa Partnership on migration, mobility and employment; for the follow-up to the June 2009 European Council Conclusions on migration in the Mediterranean and on readmission negotiations with Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and pursuing the discussion regarding migration issues, including readmission and border management, in the framework agreement with Libya; relaunching the Tripoli process; and the establishment of a Regional Protection Programme in the Horn of Africa; |

China and India |

Promote dialogues with China and India on counter-terrorism, intellectual property rights, migration, including fight against illegal migration and judicial cooperation, while pursuing the dialogue on Human Rights with China(see section Ensuring the security of Europe for the EU-China Action Plan on customs enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights), |

See section Putting solidarity and responsibility at the heart of our response for action on the dialogue and cooperation on migration with India and on the EU-China readmission agreement |

Brazil |

Implementation and further development of the Strategic Partnership and the Joint Action Plan with Brazil |

EU-LAC and Central Asian countries |

See chapter A dynamic and comprehensive migration policy for action on immigration dialogue with anchorage countries of Asia and enhancing cooperation with Central Asia, relevant to the EU interest and on developing the EU/LAC dialogue on migration; See section Ensuring the security of Europe for EU-LAC cooperation on drugs |

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Bangladesh |

See section Ensuring the security of Europe for relevant action on enhancing cooperation with on drugs and for cooperation on Terrorism; section Putting solidarity and responsibility at the heart of our response for cooperation on migration issues; for readmission agreements with those countries and on the refugee situation |

International organisations and promotion of European and international standards |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Cooperate with the Council of Europe based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2006 and continue to support the implementation of its important conventions such as the Trafficking Convention and the ones on Trafficking in human beings, Data Protection, Protection of Children, Cybercrime and Corruption. | Commission Council | Ongoing |

Continue to support the Hague Conference on Private International Law and encourage its partners to ratify the conventions where the EU is or will become a Party or where all Member States are Parties. | Commission | Ongoing |

From political priorities to actions and results

Increased coherence |

Action | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on the procedures for scrutiny of Europol's activities by the European Parliament, together with national Parliaments | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on the arrangements for involving the European Parliament and national Parliaments in the evaluation of Eurojust activities | Commission | 2011 |

Evaluation |

Action | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on evaluating JHA policies | Commission | 2010 |

Proposal for an evaluation mechanism of anti corruption policies of the Member States | Commission | 2011 |

Proposal for an evaluation mechanism for criminal justice cooperation | Commission | 2012 |

Training |

Action | Responsible party | Timetable |

Communication on an Action Plan on European training for all legal professions | Commission | 2011 |

Communication on an Action Plan on European training for EU internal security professionals | Commission | 2011 |

Pilot projects on “Erasmus-style” exchange programmes for judicial authorities and legal professionals | Commission | 2010-2012 |

Pilot projects on "Erasmus-style" exchange programmes for law enforcement authorities | Commission | 2010-2012 |

Develop a European Law Institute | Commission | 2011-2012 |

Communication |

Action | Responsible party | Timetable |

Targeted communication action to inform EU citizens about their Citizenship rights, notably on the right to consular protection in third countries and the right to free movement and residence within the EU | Commission | 2010 |

Awareness raising activities on data protection rights | Commission | Ongoing |

Awareness raising on anti-death penalty |

Awareness raising activities on the rights of the individual in criminal proceedings | Commission | Ongoing |

Awareness on tools facilitating cross-border transactions | Commission | Ongoing |

Awareness on consumer rights | Commission | Ongoing |

Awareness-raising on antidiscrimination | Commission | Ongoing |

Awareness on the customs enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights at external borders | Commission Member States | Ongoing |

Dialogue with civil society |

Actions | Responsible party | Timetable |

Meetings of the European Forum on the Rights of the Child | Commission | Ongoing |

Meetings of the European Integration Forum | Commission | Ongoing |

Meetings of the Justice Forum | Commission | Ongoing |

Meetings of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs | Commission | Ongoing |

Biannual meeting with the Platform of the Social NGOs | Commission | Ongoing |

Financing |

Action | Responsible party | Timetable |

Proposals for new financial programmes and funds in the field of Justice and Home Affairs under the next multiannual financial framework | Commission | 2011-2013 |

[1] Council document 17024/09, adopted by the European Council on 10/11 December 2009.

[2] COM(2009) 262: "An area of freedom, security and justice serving the citizen".