Brussels, 01/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 4 June, European justice ministers could agree to a proposal from the Spanish Presidency which seeks to protect victims, including violence against spouses, though this move is by no means certain. The Council is also expected to approve the first enhanced cooperation in the history of the EU, the aim being to simplify bi-national divorce proceedings between European citizens. The European Commission will announce further delays to the Schengen Information System (SIS II) and future budget estimates. The Justice and Home Affairs Council will begin on Thursday 3 June, with a meeting of the Mixed Committee and will continue with the home affairs items. The following day will be devoted entirely to justice.
Mixed Committee. The Commission will inform the Council that the new forecast for the start of SIS II is now the first half of 2013, a year and a half later than the previous forecast. Additional costs are expected to be in the region of €28 million, taking the overall cost of developing the system to roughly €83 million (see EUROPE 10149). “We are resigned to it because this issue has lasted too long and cost too much, but we cannot give up because the first tests have been done and, if we broke the contract, it would cost a fortune and we would have to start all over again,” a diplomatic source said on Tuesday. In this context, the reactions of German, Austria and France will be important, given their reticence over continuing with SIS II. Following this debate, the Commission will also present its proposal on liberalising visas with Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina (see EUROPE 10147).
Home Affairs. Home affairs ministers will be informed by European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, on her return from Washington, of the progress in negotiations with the United States on an agreement on the transfer of banking data for the purposes of combating terrorism (Swift). Ministers will also adopt, on a French proposal, a European anti-drug trafficking pact, which, at this moment, focuses on cocaine and heroin. The Council will discuss and adopt conclusions on the follow-up to the European pact on immigration and asylum of October 2008. There will be an exchange of views on the on-going talks with Turkey on a readmission agreement. Ministers may also adopt an EU-US statement on the fight against terrorism. This first stage is expected to be followed by the future adoption of joint principles on tackling terrorism. EU anti-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove will present a follow-up report on the implementation of the anti-terrorism strategy and action plan. This document focuses on enhancing security in public terrestrial transport and on connecting internal and external security. The Council will also hold a general debate on internal security.
Justice. As expected, justice ministers will approve the enhanced cooperation in divorce proceedings (see EUROPE 10148). It will not be before July, however, with the formal approval of the European Parliament, that this very first enhanced cooperation will become official. Things are moving apace since the EP legal affairs committee has just endorsed the text. Malta, where divorce is not legal, is expected to join the group of 12 pioneer member states. Member states are expected, too, to agree on the negotiating mandate on EU accession to the ECHR, although, in the opinion of the experts, the real difficulties will begin during negotiations. The agreement that is really awaited at this meeting is the one on the European victim protection order, an issue that has been the subject of a persistent misunderstanding between a group of member states and the Commission (see EUROPE 10132). At this point, the Spanish Presidency expects to win a qualified majority on the text. Working in favour of the Presidency, a draft Parliamentary report was put on Tuesday to the Libe and Femm committees of the European Parliament. This report supports Spain's approach, that is, broad application of the legislative project, unlike the scope restricted to criminal affairs, the approach backed by Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding. In its oral argumentation, the Parliament legal department backed the Presidency's approach, which is based on Article 82 of the Treaty. The United Kingdom is expected to abstain, which could compromise agreement. There is, therefore, suspense surrounding this issue. Ahead of first reading agreement, ministers will approve the compromise on the draft directive on the right to interpretation and translation services in criminal proceedings (see EUROPE 10149). The Council is expected to agree on a general approach on human trafficking. The Council will adopt a roadmap on developing e-Justice and will insist that there must be no further delay with the launch of the portal, which should be opened by the end of this year. (B.C./transl.rt)