Justice and Home Affairs

Stockholm Programme

The Stockholm Programme is to define the framework for EU police and customs cooperation, rescue services, criminal and civil law cooperation, asylum, migration and visa policy for the period 2010–2014. The Programme was discussed at the informal ministerial meeting in Stockholm in July 2009 and will ultimately be adopted by EU Heads of State and Government at the Summit in December 2009.

Photo: Lisa Tanner/Pixgallery

The focus of EU work in the area of justice and home affairs is determined in a five-year programme. The present programme, the Hague Programme, expires in 2009. Setting guidelines for continued work by negotiating a new work programme in the area of justice and home affairs – the Stockholm Programme – will therefore be a major and important task of the Swedish Presidency.

Police cooperation and asylum policy are discussed

The JHA Council usually meets every other month. It deals with issues such as asylum, cooperation to combat terrorism, and EU-wide judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The Member States are represented by their ministers for justice, home affairs or migration. During Sweden’s six months as president, an informal meeting will also be held in Stockholm in July, hosted by Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask and Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström.

More about justice and home affairs