Press Release: Commission strengthens the justice and fundamental rights dimension of future EU budgets

People in Europe need to feel at ease when they live, travel, or shop in a Member State other than their own. They should be able to rely on access to justice no matter where they are in the EU. The European Commission is putting forward proposals for simplified funding programmes to help build an EU area of justice.

The programmes will support the EU's actions to improve European cooperation on civil and criminal law, allow people to better exercise their rights as EU citizens and promote equality. They will also help to reinforce the EU's efforts to fight crime, tackle drugs demand and supply and safeguard the rights of people (such as accused persons or victims of crime) when in criminal proceedings.

The two new programmes represent a major simplification compared to the existing programmes, with less paperwork and more efficiency in their management. They will run from 2014-2020 with a proposed budget of €803 million.