The Hague Programme - ten ways of improving our lives

The European Commission has launched a five-year Action Plan for Freedom, Justice and Security. The implementation of the plan will improve the lives of ordinary EU citizens over the years.

The Commission's plan details proposals on what should be done to safeguard the security of its citizens against terrorism, how to manage migration, visa policies, asylum, privacy and security, the fight against organised crime and criminal justice.

This is a major policy initiative and a cornerstone of the Commission's Strategic Objectives for 2010 - built around prosperity, solidarity and security.

The Hague Programme was originally endorsed by the European Council last November.

Fundamental rights and citizenship

The EU aims to develop policies seeking to enhance citizenship by monitoring and promoting respect for fundamental rights. Human rights have been placed at the heart of the EU, precisely in the second part of the draft European Constitution currently being ratified across the Union.

Combating terrorism

The EU plans to pursue a global strategy against terrorism based on democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law. The Union plans to focus on prevention and preparedness. It wants to further enhance, and where necessary complement, member states' capabilities to fight terrorism.

The EU wants closer co-operation with third countries and to assist them in funding counter-terrorism and capacity-building projects. It wants to reduce access to financial resources by terrorist groups.

Furthermore, the EU wants to enhance the transparency of legal acts in the member states and to strengthen the exchange of information.

The EU wants to be able to detect, investigate and prosecute terrorists, prevent terrorist attacks, be more prepared to deal with the consequences of a terrorist attack, and to increase support for the victims of terrorism.

Migration management

The EU has the herculean task of proposing a balanced approach to migration management by developing a common immigration policy at Union level.

The EU seeks to strengthen the fight against illegal migration and trafficking in human beings, notably women and children.

This is an important area for all EU member states, particularly Malta.

Visas

The EU wants to further develop an integrated management of external borders and a common visa policy, while ensuring the free movement of persons. The member states that joined the Union in 2004 will be fully integrated in the Schengen area and internal borders checks will be lifted between them and the rest of the EU member states.

A new information system (Schengen Information System II - SIS II) will become operational in 2007. This will assist member states in controlling external borders.

The EU is developing an integrated management system for external borders. The Border Management Agency established in Warsaw will be responsible for co-ordinating action on the EU's external borders in all the member states.

The EU will also introduce a Visa Information System to enhance the exchange of visa data between member states. This will strengthen the assessment of visa applications and the verification and identification of applicants. Common visa application centres will also be set up.

A common asylum area

The EU seeks to work to establish a common asylum area taking into account humanitarian tradition, respect for its international obligations and the effectiveness of a harmonised procedure.

Integration of migrants

In 2005, a European Framework on Integration based on common principles will be established to encourage greater contact between national authorities and exchange of experiences and information on integration of migrants in their communities.

In 2006, the Commission plans to publish a Handbook on Integration whose aim will be to help practitioners, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with migrants at all levels.

Privacy in information sharing

The war against terrorism and organised crime has led to a lot of information sharing between the member states. The Commission wants to strike the correct balance between privacy and security in this sharing of information, fully respecting fundamental rights of privacy and data protection while making information available.

Organised crime

On organised crime, the EU wants to develop and implement a strategy to tackle it at EU level, comprising of knowledge of the phenomenon, law enforcement co-operation, judicial co-operation, legislative and non-legislative initiatives, and co-operation with third countries and international organisations. The Commission proposes to further develop Europol and Eurojust.

Effective area of justice

The Commission proposes to work to guarantee an effective European area of justice by ensuring an effective access to justice for all and the enforcement of judgments.

Freedom, security and justice

To achieve all the above actions, the Commission links them to the forthcoming EU financial perspective covering the years 2007-2013.

The Commission wants to ensure coherence between the political priorities defined in the Hague Programme and the financial instruments supporting their implementation in the period 2007-2013.