The Hague Programme: New five year justice and home affairs strategy adopted by the European Union, November 2004

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Publication Date December 2004
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At the European Council, Tampere, October 1999 the EU agreed a five year programme which laid the foundation for activities in the area of freedom, security and justice (often called Justice and Home Affairs). At the European Council held in Brussels, 4-5 November 2004 a new five year programme was adopted, to be known as the 'Hague Programme: Strengthening freedom, security and justice in the European Union'.

The programme reflects the ambitions as expressed in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe for the development of this policy area. It also takes account of the evaluation by the European Commission (COM (2004)405) as welcomed by the European Council in June 2004 as well as of the Recommendation on the use of qualified majority voting and the co-decision procedure adopted by the European Parliament on 14 October 2004.

The Hague Programme deals with all aspects of policies relating to the area of freedom, security and justice, including their external dimension, notably fundamental rights and citizenship, asylum and migration, border management, integration, the fight against terrorism and organised crime, justice and police cooperation, and civil law, while a drugs strategy will be added in December 2004.

Following the adoption of the Programme the European Commission will present an detailed Action Plan in 2005 with proposals for concrete actions and a timetable for their adoption and implementation. Subsequently, the Commission will present to the Council an annual report on implementation of Union measures ('scoreboard').

The European Council will review progress on the Hague Programme in the second half of 2006.

EU: Legislation and Policy Making

European Council: Presidency Conclusions, 4-5 November 2004: DOC/04/05
European Commission: COM (2004)405: Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: Assessment of the Tampere programme and future orientations, June 2004
European Commission: DG Justice and Home Affairs: Key documents
European Parliament: Plenary sessions: Texts adopted by the European Parliament, 14 October 2004: European Parliament recommendation: on the future of the area of freedom, security and justice
European Commission: SEC (2004)680: The Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: assessment of the Tampere programme and future orientations - List of the most important instruments adopted, June 2004
European Commission: SEC (2004)693: Commission staff working paper:Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: Assessment of the Tampere programme and future orientations: Annex, June 2004
European Commission: DG Justice and Home Affairs: Consulting with the public: Consultation on future guidelines for the new programme on establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice, 2004 (includes link to contributions from stakeholders)
European Council: Presidency Conclusions, 4-5 November 2004: The Hague Programme

International Organisation

UNHCR: EU should share asylum responsibilities, not shift them, November 2004

National/regional/local official organisation

Sweden: Ministry of Justice: Political orientations for the multi-annual programme building the area of freedom, security and justice, 2004
Finland: Ministries of Justice and the Interior: Political orientations for the multi-annual programme building the area of freedom, security and justice, 2004
United Kingdom: Parliament: House of Commons: European Scrutiny Committee: The EU's Justice and Home Affairs work programme for the next five years, 2004
Norway: Mission of Norway to the EU: The Hague Programme: Important implications for Norway, November 2004
Ireland: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform: Address by Minister on the Hague Programme to the Institute of European Affairs, November 2004

Stakeholder organisation

Red Cross: Opinion of the National Red Cross Societies of the EU Member States and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, September 2004
European Digital Rights: Dutch EU Presidency launches new JHA Programme, November 2004
Statewatch: News, 8 October 2004: EU - The 'Hague Programme' on justice and home affairs
Immigration Advisory Service: IAS' response to the Commission's Communication on results of the Tampere programme and future guidelines, 2004
Statewatch: The Hague Programme, with annotations by Profesor Steve Peers, November 2004
CEPS: CEPS Working Document: Towards Closer Relationships: Requirements for More Effective JHA Cooperation in an Enlarged EU, October 2004
Statewatch: Statewatch Briefing: Vetoes, Opt-outs, and EU Immigration and Asylum Law, November 2004
Amnesty International (EU Office): Open Letter to EU Heads of State and Government, November 2004
European Council on Refugees & Exiles (ECRE): Press Release, 4.11.04: Europe must end asylum lottery
Amnesty International (EU Office): More Justice and Freedom to Balance Security: Amnesty International's Recommendations to the EU, September 2004
European Confederation of Police: Future Priorities for Police Cooperation in the EU, August 2004
European Institute for Freedom, Security and Justice (EULEC): The Future of Justice and Home Affairs, 2004
European Network Against Racism (ENAR): : Opinion on future orientations for the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, 2004
Statewatch: The 'Hague Programme' Timetable

Commercial publisher and media

EUObserver.com, 25.10.04: EU ministers to discuss far-reaching Justice programme
EUObserver.com, 26.10.04: EU asylum policy passed on to summit
European Voice, Vol.10, No.39, 10.11.04: Dutch presidency hails asylum agreement as its biggest feat
Financial Times, 26.10.04: EU dilutes commitment to common asylum policy
BBC News, 25.10.04: EU develops joint asylum policy
EUObserver.com, 5.11.04: EU agrees new five-year asylum programme
BBC News, 4.11.04: EU summit seeks economic revival

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ESO: Topic Guide: Justice and Home Affairs

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