EU justice and home affairs ministers aiming at recapturing the Tampere spirit

It was in Tampere in 1999, during the previous Finnish Presidency that the European Council drew up the guidelines for the development of justice and home affairs. The Tampere resolutions were a historic step in the creation of an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Now the time has come to return to Tampere to assess how far we have progressed and to give political impetus to the continued work.

In Tampere, the EU Presidency will launch a discussion on how decision-making in police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters can be made more efficient. The currently valid Treaties make it possible for decisions on these matters to be made by qualified majority and together with the European Parliament. Today, decisions on police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters can be made only if all 25 Member States are unanimous. This has hampered progress in these matters. The reform would significantly change the decision-making system of the Union. Both Justice and Home Affairs Ministers will participate in the discussion on Friday 22 September.

At the meeting on Thursday morning 21 September the Ministers will, under the direction of the Minister of Justice, Ms Leena Luhtanen, discuss intensification of cooperation in civil law and criminal law, and, under the direction of the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kari Rajamäki, improvement of the implementation of the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy in the light of the recent serious attempts at terrorist acts in the EU area.

In the afternoon the Ministers will, under the direction of Minister Rajamäki, seek a common understanding as to how best to promote a common European asylum system. Minister Rajamäki will, in the context of EU immigration management, present an initiative of the Presidency on extended European solidarity in immigration, border control and asylum policies. Under the direction of Minister Rajamäki the meeting will also discuss the strategic guidelines on the EU’s integrated management system for external borders and the intensification of the operational activities of the EU law enforcement authorities.

Around 300 participants and 100 journalists are expected in Tampere. In addition to the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the Member States, representatives of the candidate countries, the Vice President of the Commission, Mr Franco Frattini, the Director of Europol, Mr Max-Peter Ratzel, the President of Eurojust, Mr Michael Kennedy and the Executive Director of Frontex, Mr Ilkka Laitinen as well as representatives of the European Parliament and Council have been invited.

Promemorias pertaining to the themes of the meeting can be found at www.eu.2006.fi

For the attention of journalists:
Access to the meeting and the preceding preliminary Presidency press conference in Tampere requires accreditation. More information on accreditation and media arrangements can be found on the EU Presidency website: http://www.eu.2006.fi/media_services

Additional information:
State Secretary Mr Kari Salmi (Ministry of the Interior), +358 9 160 42802, Director General Mr Antti Pelttari (Ministry of the Interior), +358 9 160 42290, Head of Media and Communications Services Ms Kaija Uusisilta (Ministry of the Interior), +358 9 160 42909, EU Coordinator Mr Sebastian Sass (Ministry of Justice), +358 50 525 2672, EU Coordinator Mr Matti Joutsen (Ministry of Justice), +358 50 374 0497, Head of Media and Communications Unit Ms Pirkko Kauppinen (Ministry of Justice), +358 9 160 67605