[size=85:3tzzjxkm]novinite 20 April 2010

EC Vows to Establish Common Rules for All EU Citizens

The European Commission presented Tuesday concrete actions and set timetables to boost citizens' ability to work, travel and study outside their home countries and align rights and sense of security throughout the EU.

Creating a single area of justice and security for 500 million Europeans is a top priority for the EC, a press release informs.

In the next five years, the Commission's proposals will enhance citizens' security with better judicial cooperation and increased solidarity through a common immigration and asylum policy. Businesses will also benefit from less red tape and more legal certainty in cross-border transactions.

"
EU citizens should not face barriers to justice when they leave their home countries. I want citizens to be confident that the EU can protect their rights when they are abroad, whether they are starting a family, planning to retire, resolving contractual disputes or dealing with the results of a car accident,"
said Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. "
These ambitious proposals will remove bureaucratic obstacles that currently hinder citizens and add extra costs and legal uncertainty to our businesses. I look forward to working with the European Parliament, national parliaments and governments on these measures, as well as citizens themselves."


EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said: "
The program laid down in Stockholm is a road map to a free and secure Europe. Because freedom and security matter to European citizens, it is also an opportunity for Europe to get closer to its citizens. That's why we are going to propose, amongst other things, an entry-exit system for the Schengen area, so that people can cross borders with less bureaucracy and yet more security. We will also introduce tools to fight organized crime more effectively and use the new provisions in the Lisbon Treaty to criminalize cyber attacks and identity theft on the Internet. My aim is also to create a common asylum and migration system based on solidarity."


European leaders endorsed 170 initiatives last December known as the Stockholm Program and the Commission now turns the political objectives into an action plan for 2010-2014.

In the Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship area, the Plan includes the following proposals:

Improving data protection for citizens in all EU policies

strengthening the rights of the accused in criminal proceedings to have a fair trial with proposals on informing them about charges

Cutting red tape for citizens and businesses by ensuring that judicial decisions and civil documents are recognized across borders without cumbersome procedures or excessive costs

Amplifying the cross-border recovery of debt and alternative dispute resolution

Boosting online commerce by offering companies an optional European contract law

Increasing protection for citizens traveling outside their home countries in the EU when they book a holiday package or file a claim after a road accident. For

travel outside the EU, citizens will have better consular protection

In the Home Affairs area, the Plan includes the following proposals:

Defining a comprehensive security strategy to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement and civil protection as well as disaster and border management

Negotiating a long-term agreement with the US on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data for the purpose of fighting terrorism (Terrorism Financing Tracking Program – TFTP)

Looking at an EU approach for the use of Passenger Name Record (EU-PNR)data for law enforcement purposes and creating a European framework for the communication of PNR data to third countries

Protecting European citizens from cybercrime by criminalizing identity theft as well as malicious software that is used to attack information systems, and by reinforcing border security by setting up an entry-exit system

Evaluating and, if necessary, amending the Data Retention Directive

Clearing the conditions of entry and residence of third country nationals for purposes of seasonal employment and intra-corporate transfers;
introducing a common EU asylum system and fostering solidarity between Member States