28/04/2021 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament approved in second reading, on Tuesday 27 April. the ‘Justice’ and ‘Rights and Values‘ programmes for the period 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12030/12), which aim to promote democracy, the rule of law, equality and fundamental rights in the EU. The ‘Rights and Values’ programme, renamed by the co-legislators as ‘Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values’, will be used to support civil society organisations dedicated to promoting and protecting the EU's common values. It benefits from a budget of €641.7 million in current prices and an additional allocation of up to €912 million - a key request of the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12626/6). The ‘Justice’ program, for its part, has a budget of €305 million and aims to promote mutual recognition, confidence and judicial cooperation. (MF)