Toespraak van minister Opstelten over de komende meerjarenstrategie (2015-2020) in de Europese Unie

Toespraak | 28-04-2014

Ladies and gentlemen,

First I would like to thank you, Prime Minister for your hospitality and for hosting this working lunch.

Process

We are about to enter a new phase of cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs. In June, we will set the agenda for the future. Our presence here today – in Finland, the cradle of the Tampere Programme – shows how much we value EU cooperation and the continuing development of the area of freedom, security and justice and more importantly, it shows that we take it very seriously.

EU cooperation has a direct and immediate effect on the daily life of citizens and businesses. So, it has to offer the right solutions to the problems they face. It’s our responsibility to represent their interests and needs. That’s why it is essential for the JHA Council to be closely involved in the preparation of the strategic guidelines. Our participation in this special meeting today, and our respective efforts so far, show that we want to play a constructive role in the preparations for the adoption of the strategic guidelines by the European Council in June.

Content

We can’t look forward without looking back. A lot has been achieved since Tampere, The Hague and Stockholm. Over the past fifteen years great progress has been made in developing and shaping the area of freedom, security and justice. To that end, a significant amount of legislation has been adopted.

We all agree that it’s important to let things settle for a while. Legislation has to be effective in practice. Before reaching for new instruments, we need to be sure that what we already have is working properly. So, consolidation will be an important aim when the new guidelines are drawn up. Moving forward, we should focus on proper implementation and on evaluating the effectiveness of instruments, rather than codifying legislation that has only recently been adopted. Tangible results are needed to build public trust in the EU.

At the same time, our area of freedom, security and justice needs maintenance. We have laid important foundations to enhance mutual trust, but some support measures may be necessary. For instance, common forensic quality standards would help create the level playing field needed for judicial cooperation on the basis of mutual recognition. In addition, new challenges and problems may demand new instruments in the field of justice. But only to close loopholes and eliminate safe havens.

This brings me to another important principle: Future policies and instruments will have to address challenges and problems at the most appropriate level. In every case, it is important to assess whether a matter should be addressed at EU level, or whether national action or regional or bilateral cooperation is the better option.

Institutions

The future is not only about effective policy. Strengthening EU cooperation is also a matter of getting the best out of the EU institutions, within the framework of the Treaty. We have to guard against institutions becoming detached from reality, distancing themselves from the Member States and their citizens, and losing touch with their problems and needs.

And that brings me back to the role of the JHA Council. Of course, the European Parliament is an important institution, growing in weight and, I hope, responsibility. And the European Commission is an equally important institution, independent, authoritative and proud of its right of initiative. But the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs know what is happening in the Member States. They have to defend their policies, including their European policies, in their national parliaments. That’s why it is vital for the JHA Council to take an active part in drawing up and implementing the strategic guidelines for JHA policy. And for the Commission to seek and heed their advice, both now and in the future.

The strategic guidelines will give the Commission the clear mandate it needs to fulfil its role. A strong and determined Commission will help maintain a sound and productive balance between the institutions. This is a job we must do together.

Thank you.