Brussels, 06/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Latvian presidency has outlined its priorities for justice and home affairs during the first six months of the year in which it is at the helm of the Council of the EU.
Justice and home affairs is a flagship area for action for this presidency and it intends to obtain an agreement on reform of personal data protection rules. This will include an agreement on the general regulation and the general approach required in March, as well as on the directive on processing personal data as part of cooperation in the police and criminal law fields. This will be subject to the approval of ministers in June. The trialogues with the European Parliament are then expected to take place.
Latvia would also like to reinvigorate the debate on enlargement of the Schengen area to include Bulgaria and Romania. These countries will be subject to a new Commission report as part of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism at the end of January/beginning of February. This debate was put on hold during the 2014 election year.
The presidency also wants to make progress on the future European Prosecutor's Office and obtain an agreement on the directive on the protection of the EU's financial interests.
Other presidency dossiers are likely to include work relating to the “Justice for Growth” Agenda, launched under the previous Commission. It will attempt to conclude revision of the appeals procedure for minor litigation and obtain an agreement on the circulation of public documents. The Presidency explained in its work programme that in the criminal law field, it would also attempt to get the directives adopted on procedural safeguards for minors suspected of having committed crimes or offences and the presumption of innocence.
In the home affairs section, Latvia has indicated that work will continue on the “Smart Borders” package, which Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos had in fact said in December 2014 would be withdrawn until the end of 2015. The European Parliament considers that this package is very expensive. It should be pointed out that this includes a regulation on the European regular travellers registration programme and a regulation on the EU entry/exit system that seeks to improve controls governing short-term stays in the EU. When asked about this dossier, the Latvian presidency did not offer any further precisions regarding it.
On migration issues, the presidency is seeking to provide protection to refugees fleeing conflict zones, develop possibilities for legal immigration and continue to step up the fight against illegal immigration. Although the issue of the recent arrivals of migrants (the majority of whom are Syrian refugees being transported in enormous cargo ships that have been abandoned at the doors of the EU by their crews) has not been included in the agenda, it could, however, be discussed during the informal Riga meeting on 29-30 January. On Tuesday, Natasha Bertaud, the spokesperson for the Greek Commissioner, explained, “Commissioner Avramopoulos is expected to discuss this with his counterparts”. Dialogue and cooperation with third countries on these subjects are subsequently even more of a priority now.
In the legal immigration domain, Latvia intends to continue work on the conditions for students and foreign researchers entering the EU. In the section on irregular immigration, it is looking at the issue of the custody of non-accompanied foreign minors and the rules included to this effect in the Dublin regulation.
Making progress on the European PNR
In the area of home affairs, Latvia will have to tackle the question of foreign combatants and also wants to make progress on the question of the European PNR.
During the most recent European summit, several member states were concerned about the EU blockage on this dossier and through the intermediary of Donald Tusk, called on Martin Schulz to discuss their decision with MEPs, of referring the PNR agreement between the EU and Canada, to the European Court of Justice. According to the member states, this is hindering any progress being made on the European PNR question. On Thursday 8 January, the EP Civil Liberties committee will examine the opinions from the EP's legal services on the European Court of Justice's annulment last April of the directive on data retention. This stipulates that any pending EU legislation or ongoing international agreements must clearly include the principles established by the decision and through them, proportionality regarding the collection of personal data and justification of the objective sought.
On a completely different subject, the presidency will also be seeking to obtain an agreement on new rules regarding controls on psychoactive substances and drugs. (SP)