Brussels, 23/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 27 February, in the afternoon, the Freedoms and Citizens Rights, Justice and Home Affairs Committee in the European Parliament Chaired by the Liberal Democrat Graham Watson is organising a hearing on the theme "European Freedoms, Security and Justice Area": adoption of the Union acquis by the accession candidate countries. Among the participants will be a representative from the Swedish Presidency and, for Commissioner Antonio Vitorino, the Director if the Directorate General Justice and Home Affairs in the European Commission, Denise Sorasio.
Representatives from the candidate country parliaments will speak in the debate on: - an area of free movement of persons: common control and responsibility of external borders and Schengen cooperation; - a European legal area: civil and penal cooperation; - an area of security: prevention and fight against organised crime. The conclusions will be drawn by the MEPs Arie Oostlander (EPP. Dutch) and Maria Berger (Austrian Social Democrat).