Brussels, 26/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs Jacques Barrot takes the view that the area for freedom, security and justice will expand rapidly with the forthcoming entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. “In 10 years, this area has become one of Europe's fundamental objectives. The Lisbon Treaty will be a powerful accelerator”, Barrot said in November in a speech which appeared in the Robert Schuman Foundation letter. The commissioner took up the main innovations of the future treaty on justice and security, saying: “On the subject of police cooperation and cooperation in criminal law or legal immigration, it will be possible to henceforth adopt measures by qualified majority and no longer unanimously. This is a fundamental point to facilitate decision-making at the Council of Ministers”, he said. The European Parliament, which was only consulted in such areas before, becomes a “co-legislator”, allowing the democratic legitimacy of action to be strengthened, Barrot said. He went on: “This heightened Parliament role should allow us to make progress in many fields, for example regarding procedural guarantees granted to people in criminal proceedings. This is an area to which the European Parliament and Commission attach considerable importance but for which progress has been blocked for several years by the rule of unanimity at the Council of Ministers”. Another very marked move forward in the treaty, the commissioner says, is the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which will take on a “binding nature” (despite the opt-out by the United Kingdom, Poland and the Czech Republic). Furthermore, the European Union will be able to join the European Convention of Human Rights. Jacques Barrot also highlighted strengthened control by the Court of Justice, saying: “Although many texts have been adopted in past years, one can see that progress on the ground is often too weak, given the lack of implementation by member states. This is particularly true when it comes to police and criminal law cooperation. The new treaty will allow the European Commission to fully play its role to ensure that European decisions are effectively applied in states”. Of course, the Lisbon Treaty will give “powerful leverage” to take European integration forward in justice, freedom and security, the French official acknowledges. “But we must now show proof of the political determination necessary to take effective action”, he nonetheless pointed out. And this is precisely why the Commission suggests an ambitious Stockholm programme to the Parliament and Council, he said. On 10 and 11 December, the European Council will adopt the Stockholm programme, the Union's new five year plan for justice and home affairs. (B.C./transl.jl)