The Commission submitted to the Council its new proposals promoting liberty, security and justice under the next financial framework for the period from 2007 to 2013.
The Council will return to this point at one of its forthcoming meetings. The Commission's approach towards achieving this objective is based on three framework programmes which will replace the plethora of instruments which the Commission is currently administering in this area.
In order to implement fully the concept of European citizenship, the Commission proposes establishing the framework programme on fundamental rights and justice. The incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into the Constitutional Treaty means that the Union is legally obliged to ensure not only respect for fundamental rights, but also the active promotion of such rights. The right to physical integrity should also be guaranteed by combating violence. For the purposes of public health protection, information on drugs and the prevention of narcotics consumption also play an important role.
The programme will enable actions to be developed which would be less effective at national level, (e.g. judicial cooperation in both civil and criminal matters), allow private individuals and undertakings to assert their civil and commercial interests in other Member States and guarantee that crime and criminals will never go unpunished. The framework programme on solidarity and migration management will support national measures aiming in particular to:
– improve the effectiveness of controls at the EU's external borders, while ensuring that bona fidetravellers can cross the borders without hindrance;
– finance civic orientation courses, provide cross-cultural training and manuals for newcomers and (local) governments and facilitate the integration process;
– ensure appropriate reception conditions for persons seeking international protection in the EU and a fair and efficient examination of their applications for asylum;
– advise asylum applicants whose applications have been refused and illegal immigrants so that they can return with dignity to their country of origin.
The proposed framework programme on security and protection of freedoms pursues the following main objectives:
– to promote and develop prevention of crime (whether organised or not) and measures to combat this phenomenon, in particular terrorism, trafficking in human beings and crimes against children, drugs trafficking, arms trafficking, corruption and fraud;
– to protect citizens, their freedoms and society against terrorist attacks, and to protect the EU by promoting and developing the prevention of, preparation for and management of the consequences of terrorist attacks.
The budget proposed by the Commission for the area of justice, security and freedom is EUR 8,3 billion in 2004 prices (or EUR 9,5 billion if inflation projections are taken into account). This represents an increase of 228% between 2006 (the final year of budgetary programming) and 2013.