The Council of the European Union has approved three new instruments for the period 2007 – 2013, to fight terrorism and crime more effectively and enhance protection for citizens in Europe, and promote judicial cooperation in criminal matters among Member States.
Vice-President Frattini, Commissioner responsible for the Justice, Freedom and Security portfolio, expressed his satisfaction for the adoption by the Council of three specific financial instruments: "These will provide the EU with additional means to enhance protection for citizens, fighting terrorism and crime more effectively, and promote judicial cooperation thus contributing to the creation of a genuine European area of justice based on mutual recognition and mutual confidence."
The programme "Prevention, preparedness and consequence management of terrorism and other security related risks for the period 2007-2013", forms part of the general programme on "Security and safeguarding liberties" with a budget of €140m. This programme addresses prevention, preparedness and consequence management of security threats, which are essential aspects of the objective of maintaining and developing the EU as an area of freedom, security and justice.
Furthermore, the EU announced plans to support measures to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute all forms of crime efficiently and effectively, most particularly in cases with a trans-border element. A programme "Prevention of and fight against crime" which also forms part of the general programme "Security and safeguarding liberties", has been established with a global budget of up to €600m for the period 2007-2013.
The programme "Criminal justice" has also been adopted as part of the General programme "Fundamental rights and justice". With a total budget for 2007-2013 of €196.2m, it will provide financial support for activities promoting judicial cooperation in criminal matters and thus contributing to the creation of a genuine European area of justice based on mutual recognition and mutual confidence.
