Brussels, 14/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - European home affairs and justice ministers will meet in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 July at an informal Council meeting to begin the debate on the future “Stockholm Programme” on continued cooperation in justice and home affairs for the next five years. It will be the task of the Swedish Presidency to negotiate the broad thrust of this new domestic security, immigration and asylum, and justice programme. The Communication adopted by the Commission on 10 June will provide the basis for discussions (see EUROPE 9918). Immigration and asylum. This is certain to be one of the most controversial issues of the meeting. In terms of combating illegal immigration, all member states supported a toughened readmission policy and a beefing up of Frontex, both in expenditure and staffing and on setting up regional offices. However, several countries are not keen on Frontex having its own equipment and material. Another problematic issue will be continuation of discussions on setting up a common asylum system. With regard to this, the sharing of asylum requests is likely to be, once again, a very sensitive matter. For the Swedish Presidency, one of the weak points in this area comes from the fact that asylum requests are not dealt with in the same way throughout the EU. The Presidency will also focus on legal immigration. “We want to open a way for those who seek to come to Europe to work. Every member state must, in future, be able to decide on the level of immigration of labour it needs for its labour market, but we have to agree on the main ideas,” said Minister for Immigration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström. Domestic security and rights. The Presidency will ask member states what seem to them to be the main topics in this area. Among these is expected to be tackling organised crime, for example, tackling human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children. Ministers will also be able to set out their positions on the strategy to be adopted on information management, including on the agency recently proposed by the Commission to manage data bases (see EUROPE 9928). Ministers are expected, also, to discuss the Commission idea of a European Schengen visa, an idea that, for the moment at any rate, is being opposed by most capitals. Focus will also be put on citizens' rights, particularly with regard to data protection, through, for example, European certification for technologies. The Council is likely to support the idea of holding the European elections in all EU countries around 9 May. Justice. In this area, the main thrust is the reaffirmation of the rule of law. “For years, European cooperation has focused on combating terrorism and police measures. I think it is time to devote some time to individual rights,” said Swedish Justice Minister Beatrice Ask. Ministers will discuss improving the rights of the accused in judicial cases, mutual recognition of justice decision (abolition of the exequatur), training of justice staff and justice online. (B.C./transl.rt)