EU cooperation on law enforcement, immigration and justice must deliver domestic objectives that matter to our citizens. The EU is currently discussing the next big work programme on Justice and Home Affairs, the ‘Stockholm Programme’ and we must make sure it has clear aims that will make a positive difference.

We want the programme to make an EU where:

 

Children are safe:

building on successes like the child alert system and proportionate measures for the exchange of information on those already convicted of crimes against children. The British Embassy in Prague has worked with the Czech authorities to promote the importance of EU action on child protection, that was also a priority for the Czech EU Presidency in 2008.

 

We exchange information sensibly

between ourselves and other countries to help safeguard our borders and catch offenders from within or outside the EU through joint intelligence led policing.

 

Justice knows no borders:

the EU should ensure that every citizen should be confident that wherever they are in the EU civil justice will be enforced, criminals face justice and everyone will receive a fair trial.

 

Freedom of movement, but tackling illegal immigration:

easy travel within the EU and throughout the world is a great positive for our lives and economy. But we need to make sure that is not abused. We must tackle illegal immigration and serious crimes such a people trafficking through technology and the sharing of data and law enforcement intelligence.

 

We are vigilant against terrorism

so people can go about their lives with freedom and confidence. We want cooperation that prevents radicalisation, protects all our citizens and disrupts terrorist networks.

 

We tackle organised crime

through a new European serious organised crime strategy targeting gangs who smuggle people, drugs, guns and profits from crime. And we reach beyond our borders to work with countries involved as source and transit countries of these issues and others such as illegal immigration.