Brussels, 01/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - Racism, incitement to hatred, and justifying, denying or trivialising crimes of genocide will soon be punishable by a prison sentence of between one and three years throughout the European Union. On Friday 28 November, the European justice ministers agreed to bring these criminal sanctions into all of their legislations. It has taken nearly 7 years of negotiations to reach this result, stressed the European Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot, speaking to the press. "Racism and xenophobia have no place in Europe, and should not have anywhere else in the world", he stressed, welcoming the introduction of severe and effective sanctions against these violations of human rights. The text, which was the subject of a political agreement in April 2007, punishes public incitement to violence or hatred targeting a group of people or a member of such a group, defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent, national or ethnic origin (EUROPE 9410). The Council also adopted a framework-decision on the application of the principle of mutual recognition of judgments in criminal matters pronouncing sentences or other measures. It also adopted a decision approving the conclusion of the Convention on the judicial competence, recognition and execution of decisions in civil and commercial matters, which will replace the Convention of Lugano of 16 September 1988. In the framework of an agreement at first reading with the European Parliament, the Council reached an agreement on a modification to the decision on the creation of a European legal network for civil and commercial matters. The ministers also reached a political agreement on the recitals and annexes to the regulation on the competence, applicable law, recognition and execution of decisions and cooperation on food obligations. They adopted conclusions on the development of national warning measures in the event of kidnap. Mr Barrot stressed that the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were in the process of creating a system of this kind. Lastly, the Council adopted a number of conclusions in the field of immigration and asylum. The results of the JHA Council of 27 and 28 November can be consulted at: http: //http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/fr/jha/104372.pdf (B.C.)