In 1999 a summit in Tampere, Finland adopted the “Tampere Conclusions”
based on the new competencies of the EU for justice and home affairs
under the Amsterdam Treaty. The objective was approximation of
procedural and substantive law to facilitate mutual recognition by
creating common minimum standards for the protection of invidividuals’
rights. Mutual recognition became the cornerstone of judicial
cooperation in criminal matters.
In 2004 the Hague Programme and Action Plan (
COM(2005)184) were
adopted. The Commission has published three annual reports on their
implementation, known as the Scoreboards. According to the latest
(2 July 2008), achievements have been registered in migration, border
management and the fight against terrorism but more work is needed in
the field of judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters.
With the Hague Programme coming to an end in 2009, the Presidency of
the Council set up “Future Groups” to provide ideas and the Commission
launched a public consultation on the new “Stockholm” Programme. What
should be a priority in European criminal law for the next five years?
How can existing legislation be improved or simplified? How can
existing instruments be made more effective? How should new
technologies be used to promote a coherent judicial area and reinforce
police cooperation?
This conference will deal with the criminal and police side of the new
programme. Judicial cooperation in civil matters will be discussed at a
conference on 26-27 November 2009.