New financial instruments to strengthen security in Europe and promote judicial cooperation in Criminal matters are now adopted

The Council of the European Union approved three new instruments for the period 2007 – 2013, to fight terrorism and crime more effectively and enhance protection for citizens in Europe and promote judicial cooperation in criminal matters among Member States.

Vice-President Frattini, Commissioner responsible for the Justice, Freedom and Security portfolio, expressed his satisfaction for the adoption by the Council of the European Union of three specific financial instruments: « these will provide the EU with additional means to enhance protection for citizens, fighting terrorism and crime more effectively, and promote judicial cooperation thus contributing to the creation of a genuine European area of justice based on mutual recognition and mutual confidence».

The specific programme «Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism and other Security Related Risks for the Period 2007-2013», as part of the general programme on «Security and safeguarding liberties» with the budget amounting to €140 million. This programme addresses prevention, preparedness and consequence management of security threats, which are essential aspects of the objective of maintaining and developing the Union as an area of freedom, security and justice.

To protect the freedom and security of its citizens and society from criminal activities, the European Union must support measures to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute all forms of crime efficiently and effectively, most particularly in cases with a trans-border element. To better achieve this objective, a specific programme «Prevention of and Fight against Crime» as part of the General Programme «Security and Safeguarding Liberties», has been established with a global budget amounting up to 600 million euros for the period 2007-2013

The specific programme «Criminal Justice» has been adopted as part of the General programme «Fundamental Rights and Justice». With a total budget of 196,2 million Euro for the period 2007 – 2013 it will provide financial support for activities promoting judicial cooperation in criminal matters and thus contributing to the creation of a genuine European area of justice based on mutual recognition and mutual confidence.

IP/07/189

Brussels, 15 February 2007

Source : Europa