Assessment of the Hague Programme
Co-operation on criminal law
Co-operation on civil law
Consumer protection, company law and various other issues to be discussed in the Councils
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Development of EU legislation
Developing openness in the EU
EU-Russia co-operation and other external relations

In general, the Council on Justice and Home Affairs will meet every second month and the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of member states will participate in it. During Finland’s Presidency, there will be three Council meetings in this policy area and their chairmen are Minister of Justice Ms Leena Luhtanen and Minister of the Interior Mr Kari Rajamäki.

During Finland’s Presidency, the Hague Programme will be assessed. This multiannual programme aims to strengthen freedom, security and justice in the European Union. The foundation for it was created at the European Council meeting in Tampere during Finland’s previous Presidency in 1999.

The goal of Finland’s EU Presidency is to provide guidelines on the political level and to define co-operation in justice and home affairs for the coming years. At the same time, the streamlining of decision-making on co-operation in criminal justice and police work will be considered. In addition, progress on the implementation of the Hague Programme will be assessed and additional focus areas will be identified.

During her Presidency, Finland will place a particular emphasis on advancing those projects that strengthen principles of mutual recognition in criminal and civil justice co-operation. Mutual recognition entails that a legal decision made in one member state is accepted as such and enforceable in another.

A good example of the principle of mutual recognition is the framework decision that would make it easier to move the execution of prison terms to the convicted person’s home state or state of residence. Furthering this project is a priority for Finland’s Presidency, as Finland has taken the initiative in this area alongside Austria and Sweden.

Many of the projects in progress during Finland’s Presidency are aimed at solving legal problems in the everyday life of citizens and enterprises. During its Presidency, Finland will continue work on statutes determining which country’s laws are applicable to contractual obligations, among other issues. These statutes apply, for example, to situations where a consumer buys goods from a seller in another member state.

Advancing fundamental rights is one of Finland’s priorities. We will seek to ensure that the Fundamental Rights Agency is operational from the beginning of 2007.

We will also strive to strengthen the external aspects of justice and home affairs during Finland's Presidency. The focus will be on co-operation with Russia and the United States.

Updated on 3 July 2006