The Eighteen-month Programme of the Trio
Presidency
For the period from January 2007 to June 2008 the Trio of
consecutive Council Presidencies Germany, Portugal and Slovenia
have drawn up an Eighteen-month Programme for the first time.
This Programme is the official Council work programme covering
this period and has been drafted in close coordination with the
Commission. The joint Programme is going to strengthen continuity
in the work the Council is doing. Topics central to the Trio
Programme are continuation of the EU reform and constitutional
process, implementation of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and
employment as well as further progress towards the Area of
Freedom, Security and Justice.
The Presidency Programme of the Federal
Government
Germany has drafted a Federal
Government Programme for the duration of the German Presidency.
It gives an overview of the manifold topics and projects that
will be dealt with during the German Presidency and gives
information on the particular accentuations that Germany will be
making during its Presidency. The German EU Presidency Programme
fits into the Eighteen-month Programme of the Council and
specifies the joint planning of the Trio Presidency of Germany,
Portugal and Slovenia for the six months of the German
Presidency. The work programme builds on work done by the Finnish
Presidency and takes account of the Commission’s strategic
work programme for 2007.
The Presidency Programme of the Federal Ministry of
Justice
The Federal Ministry of Justice,
responsible for presenting legal policy, has set itself three
goals:
- strengthening citizens’ rights,
- increasing legal certainty for citizens and businesses, and
- strengthening the justice system and practical cooperation.
Europe must form an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. This is what the European Treaties say; this is what the citizens expect and this is where the FMJ is directing its political endeavours. With the German Council Presidency citizens’ rights are going to be strengthened in Europe. Continuation of the integration process must not be directed solely at state institutions and European institutions but must also serve Union citizens. The Federal Ministry of Justice wants to create greater legal certainty for cross-border activities.
In order for citizens and businesses to be able to make better use of the opportunities offered by a Europe without borders, there must be clarity as to which law applies in what place, and also as regards the identity of right holders and the nature of their rights. The more permeable borders become, and the greater the variety of activities pursued by citizens and by private enterprise across borders, the closer practical cooperation will also have to be between national judicial authorities, for it is only under these circumstances that the justice system will be able to remain the guarantor of law in a united Europe as well.
The Eighteen-month Programme for the Justice
System
For the first time, the German, the
Portuguese and the Slovene Council Presidency have drawn up an
eighteen-month programme for the justice system as well. The
Presidency Programme of the FMJ fits into this eighteen-month
Programme and specifies the joint plans of the Trio Presidency of
Germany, Portugal and Slovenia for the six months of the German
Presidency.
