EUROPA - Newsroom - Latest press releases and statements on justice and citizens rights

Speech: Raoul Wallenberg - To me there's no other choice

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:17:00 +0200

European Commission Cecilia Malmström EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Speech: Kazerne Dossin, Mechelen, Belgium 18 June 2013 Last January, in the European Parliament, I participated at a ceremony in remembrance of the Holocaust. A film from the ghetto in Warsaw was shown.

Press release - PRISM: EU citizens' data must be properly protected against US surveillance - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:13:00 +0200

The US PRISM internet surveillance case highlights the urgent need to pass legislation to protect EU citizens' personal data, most MEPs agreed in Wednesday's Civil Liberties Committee debate with Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding. MEPs also called for safeguards for personal data transferred outside the EU.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

Press release - Ensuring fair trials: clearer EU-wide rules on access to a lawyer - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:25:00 +0200

Suspects or accused persons will be entitled to access to a lawyer before the start of any questioning by the police and throughout criminal proceedings wherever they are in the EU, under a deal struck by Parliament and Council negotiators on 28 May and endorsed by the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

Commissioner Malmström welcomes LIBE Committee vote on EUROSUR

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:15:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 19 June 2013 I welcome the positive vote by the LIBE Committee on the EUROSUR Regulation. Today's vote paves the way for a quick adoption by the European Parliament and the Home Affairs Council.

EUROSUR: new tools to save migrants' lives at sea and fight cross-border crime

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:15:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 19 June 2013 What is the aim of EUROSUR? The European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) aims at increasing coordination within and between Member States to reinforce border surveillance, prevent and tackle serious crime, such as drug trafficking and the trafficking of human beings.

Press release - MEPs call on Hungarian authorities to abide by EU values - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:24:00 +0200

Civil Liberties Committee recommendations to Hungary and the European Commission on how to remedy any breaches of key EU values promptly and avoid double standards are set out in a report voted on Wednesday. Should the Hungarian authorities fail to abide by EU values, MEPs ask the European Parliament's authorities to consider resorting to EU Treaty Article 7 (1), which would enable the EU Council of Ministers to determine whether there is a clear risk of a serious breach.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

Press release - Election of the new EU Ombudsman: Members hear candidates - Committee on Petitions

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:09:00 +0200

Members asked the six candidates for the post of European Ombudsman what they could offer by way of independence, visibility and transparency, in a series of public hearings held by the Petitions Committee on Tuesday. The new Ombudsman will be elected by the full Parliament in July.
Committee on Petitions

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

EU drugs and maritime agencies open their doors to the public on inauguration of Praça Europa

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:34:00 +0200

73/2013 : 18 June 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-681/11

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:51:00 +0200

Schenker and Others
Competition
Legal advice given by a law firm or a decision of a national competition authority does not exempt an undertaking from anti-competitive conduct or from imposition of a fine

Credible cyber security strategy in the EU needs to be built on privacy and trust

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0200

PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 17 June 2013 Cyber security is not an excuse for the unlimited monitoring and analysis of the personal information of individuals, said the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) today following the publication of his opinion on the EU's strategy on cyber security.

Commission report calls for forward-looking policies on migration

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Press release Brussels, 17 June 2013 Commission How are the EU and its Member States addressing the challenges and opportunities of migration? Analysing the 2012 and early 2013 developments in the areas of immigration and asylum, a Commission report published today calls for a more coherent EU response.

Speech: EU and U.S. will set a Transatlantic group of experts to discuss the U.S. programmes more in details

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:58:00 +0200

European Commission Cecilia Malmström EU Commissioner for Home Affairs EU Speech: EU Press Conference, EU-U.S. Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial /Dublin 14 June 2013 Let me first thank the Irish Presidency for the organisation of this event. The EU-U.S.

Council and the European Parliament reach a provisional agreement on the EUROSUR system

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0200

Press release - EU must set standard for worldwide press freedom and freedom of religion

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:39:00 +0200

Plenary sessions : MEPs call on the EU to take the lead in ensuring the protection of journalists worldwide and in promoting freedom of religion or belief without harming other freedoms or rights, in two separate resolutions passed on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

Employment: Commissioners Malmström and Andor welcome the new OECD report on international migration trends

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 13 June 2013 European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström and László Andor, the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, have welcomed the OECD report International Migration Outlook 2013, published today.

Press release - Mutual recognition of professional qualifications: MEPs strike deal with Council

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:15:00 +0200

General : Doctors, nurses, architects and other professionals moving to another EU country will find it easier to get their qualifications recognised there thanks to a provisional deal struck by MEPs and the EU's Irish Presidency of the Council on Wednesday evening. It will bring in an electronic card listing professional skills and oblige professionals' home countries to do more to help them to obtain recognition abroad.

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

72/2013 : 13 June 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-287/12 P

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:11:00 +0200

Ryanair v Commission
State aid
The Court of Justice confirms the General Court’s judgment upholding the Commission decisions holding the Italian State’s loan to Alitalia to be unlawful, but permitting the sale of its assets

Press release - Oil, gas, mineral and logging firms obliged to disclose payments to governments

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:50:00 +0200

Plenary sessions : Large extractive companies dealing with oil, gas and minerals and loggers of primary forests will be obliged to disclose full details of their payments to national governments for every project that they operate, under new legislation approved by Parliament on Wednesday. The aim is to make companies dealing with strategic resources and governments more accountable.

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

Press release - Parliament gives green light to the new European asylum system

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:39:00 +0200

Plenary sessions : New rules laying down common procedures and deadlines for handling asylum applications and basic rights for asylum seekers arriving in the EU were endorsed by Parliament on Wednesday. The Common European Asylum System will also stop transfers of asylum seekers to member states unable to ensure decent living conditions for them.

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

Press release - European Parliament backs Schengen reform deal

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:31:00 +0200

Plenary sessions : Freedom of movement within the Schengen area will be better protected thanks to MEPs' input to the new Schengen governance rules. Inspection teams will in future be able to make unannounced visits to internal borders to halt any attempt to impose illegal checks. Free movement is the most positive outcome of 50 years of EU integration, said 62% of respondents to a recent Eurobarometer survey.

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

Commissioner Malmström welcomes rules to protect free movement

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:01:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Strasbourg, 12 June 2013 I very much welcome the European Parliament's approval of the new Schengen proposals. This is good news for hundreds of millions of people, as the new rules will better protect Schengen as an area without controls at internal borders and will help prevent...

Commissioner Malmström welcomes the European Parliament's vote on the Common European Asylum System

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:00:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Strasbourg, 12 June 2013 The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) has been my top priority since the beginning of my mandate and I have been involved in negotiations since the first day. Getting the CEAS in place is an historic achievement, something the EU Member States and...

New Schengen rules to better protect citizens' free movement

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 12 June 2013 The Schengen area of free movement is a unique achievement. Each year millions of European citizens freely cross our internal borders without a border control. In 2011, the Commission put forward two legislative proposals on the Schengen governance (IP/11/1036 and MEMO/11/606) to protect...

A Common European Asylum System

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Strasbourg, 12 June 2013 1. Asylum and the EU A duty to protect Asylum is granted to people fleeing persecution or serious harm. Asylum is a fundamental right; granting it is an international obligation under the 1951 Geneva Convention on the protection of refugees.

Joint Statement on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:52:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 12 June 2013 On the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour (12 June), High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton, Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, Commissioner for Employment,...

Press release - Parliament to debate Schengen reform package

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0200

Plenary sessions : MEPs will give their views on the Schengen reform package agreement on Tuesday at 16.00. After almost a year of tough negotiations between Parliament and Council, the plenary will vote Wednesday on the new rules to reform the management of the EU's border check-free area.

Source : © European Union, 2013 - EP

EASO and FRA sign working arrangement

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:21:00 +0200

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) have today signed a working arrangement which, on the basis of the existing bilateral relations, identifies the relevant principles, areas and objectives for enhancing their cooperation. The working arrangement covers the fields of training, quality support, operational cooperation, research, information and analysis, as [...]

Ombudsman helps solve EUR 93 000 payment dispute between NGO and the Commission

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0200

P. Nikiforos Diamandouros European Ombudsman European Ombudsman 11 June 2013 Ombudsman Ombudsman The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has helped to settle a EUR 93 000 payment dispute between a French NGO "Earth Data Network for Education and Scientific Exchange" (EDNES) and the European Commission.

Migration and mobility partnership signed between the EU and Morocco

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:30:00 +0200

european commission Press release Brussels, 7 June 2013 Cooperation between Morocco and the EU is set to also apply to migration and the movement of people, thanks to an EU-Morocco mobility partnership which was signed today by Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Mr Saad dine El Otmani, the Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs...

71/2013 : 6 June 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-648/11

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:01:00 +0200

MA and Others
VISA
The Member State responsible for examining an asylum application made in more than one Member State by an unaccompanied minor is the State in which the minor is present after having lodged an application there

Ombudsman welcomes European Chemicals Agency's new measures to prevent conflicts of interest

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0200

P. Nikiforos Diamandouros European Ombudsman European Ombudsman 6 June 2013 Ombudsman Ombudsman The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, welcomed the positive reply of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to suggestions he made with an eye to helping the Agency improve its administration.

Justice and Home Affairs Council 6-7 June 2013 in Luxembourg

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 5 June 2013 European Union Justice and Home Affairs ministers will meet in Luxembourg on 6 and 7 June 2013. The European Commission will be represented by Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice and Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.

70/2013 : 4 June 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-300/11

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:12:00 +0200

ZZ
Citizenship of the Union
The essence of the reasons for a decision refusing entry into a Member State must be disclosed to the person concerned

EASO – Italy Special Support Plan

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:44:00 +0200

The European Asylum Support Office and Italy have today signed a special support plan which provides for EASO Special Support to Italy, until the end of 2014, in a number of prioritized areas, such as data collection and analysis, Country of Origin Information (COI), Dublin system, reception system and emergency capacity, and training of independent [...]

Strong data protection to improve EU approach to serious crimes

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:52:00 +0200

PRESS RELEASE Brussels, Monday 3 June 2013 Robust data protection considerations can strengthen the credibility of investigations into serious crimes in the EU. This is the message the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) sent in his opinion published today on the Commission proposal for a new legal framework for the...

Commission reports on EU free movement

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Press release Brussels, 03 June 2013 Commission The Schengen area of free movement allows more than 400 million EU citizens from 26 European countries and an increasing number of non-EU citizens, to travel without internal border controls.

Commission launches EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings

Fri, 31 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Press release Brussels, 31 May 2013 Commission Europe needs to work closer together to help the victims of today's slavery. Today, over 100 European civil society organisations are joining forces in the new EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings.

Speech: EU Civil Society joins the fight against Human Trafficking

Fri, 31 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Commission Cecilia Malmström EU Commissioner for Home Affairs EU Speech: EU EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings/Brussels 31 May 2013 Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am very pleased to be here with you today, to launch the EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human...

69/2013 : 30 May 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-168/13 PPU

Thu, 30 May 2013 13:11:00 +0200

F
Justice and Home Affairs
EU law does not prevent Member States from providing for an appeal suspending execution of a decision extending the effects of a European arrest warrant

68/2013 : 30 May 2013 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the case C-85/12

Thu, 30 May 2013 12:42:00 +0200

Landsbanki
Freedom to provide services
Advocate General Cruz Villalón considers that the Directive on the reorganisation and winding up of credit institutions does not preclude the adoption by law, as in Iceland, of measures to reorganise financial institutions

67/2013 : 30 May 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-677/11

Thu, 30 May 2013 12:10:00 +0200

Doux Élevages and Coopérative agricole UKL-AREE
State aid
A decision by which a national authority extends to all traders in an agricultural industry an agreement made within a recognised inter-trade organisation from that industry which introduces the levying of a CVO (cotisation volontaire obligatoire) does not constitute State aid

May infringements package: main decisions

Thu, 30 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 30 May 2013 May May DIGITAL AGENDA EMPLOYMENT & social affairs ENERGY Industry & ENTREPRENEURSHIP ENVIRONMENT HOME AFFAIRS JUSTICE INTERNAL MARKET & SERVICES TRANSPORT TAXATION & CUSTOMS UNION AT 1 BE 1 1 1 CZ 1 EE 1 1 EL 1 1 1 1 ES 1...

66/2013 : 30 May 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-270/11

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:32:00 +0200

Commission v Sweden
Law governing the institutions
Sweden is ordered to make a lump sum payment of €3 000 000 for its delay in transposing the Data Retention Directive into national law

65/2013 : 30 May 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-534/11

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:01:00 +0200

Arslan
VISA
An asylum seeker may, on the basis of national law, be detained for the purposes of removal on the ground of illegal stay where the application for asylum has been made with the sole aim of delaying or jeopardising enforcement of the return decision

Commissioner Malmström welcomes agreement on Schengen proposals

Thu, 30 May 2013 10:51:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 30 May 2013 "I welcome the agreement on the Schengen proposals at trilogue and Coreper level. The agreement paves the way to a sound Schengen governance based on clear and transparent rules that will make the system more efficient, thanks to the central role given to...

64/2013 : 30 May 2013 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-512/10

Thu, 30 May 2013 10:41:00 +0200

Commission v Poland
Transport
Poland failed to fulfil some of its obligations under EU law in the area of rail transport

'Smart, sustainable, inclusive Europe': only with stronger and more effective data protection

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:42:00 +0200

PRESS RELEASE Brussels, Wednesday 29 May 2013 The lobbying surrounding the current review of the EU data protection law by organisations both from Europe and elsewhere has been exceptional. Following the presentation of his Annual Report of activities for 2012 to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs...

New European drug report out today — Europe’s drugs problem in ‘state of flux’, says EMCDDA

Tue, 28 May 2013 16:36:00 +0200

New drugs cause fundamental shift in Europe’s drug market

Tue, 28 May 2013 16:35:00 +0200

Speech: The rise of right-wing extremism in Europe

Mon, 27 May 2013 15:16:00 +0200

European Commission Cecilia Malmström EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Speech: 'We are the Others' conference/Berlin 27 May 2013 Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, First I would like to thank the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung for organising this conference on a very important subject.

Ombudsman dealt with more than 30 000 complaints in the past ten years

Mon, 27 May 2013 10:00:00 +0200

P. Nikiforos Diamandouros European Ombudsman European Ombudsman 27 May 2013 Ombudsman Ombudsman The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, dealt with more than 30 000 complaints and opened almost 3 500 investigations into alleged maladministration in the EU administration during his ten years in office.

Making migration a driver for development

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200

European Commission Press release Brussels, 22 May 2013 The European Commission is presenting its views on how migration and mobility can contribute to inclusive and economic social development and how to strengthen global cooperation in this area.