EU JHA: Stockholm Programme officially published

Justice and home affairs (JHA) was an area where the Lisbon Treaty brought about significant changes, introducing the ordinary legislative procedure into judicial cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation. (See December 2009 summary by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.)

In addition, the European Union’s emerging area of freedom, security and justice (FSJ) has a direct bearing on EU citizens.

During 2010─2014 we are going to see a lot of legislative activity, outlined in the Stockholm Programme.

We now have a new and final reference to the Stockholm Programme, published in the Official Journal of the European Union in the official languages:




The Stockholm Programme — An open and secure Europe serving and protecting citizens; OJEU 4.5.2010 C 115/1.


The official publication of a final and agreed text should free us from one minor annoyance, when recently the European Commission referred to the Swedish Council presidency pages or to document 17024/09, whereas the JHA Council used a new reference, document 5731/10, without explanation.



Next step


The JHA Council plans to adopt the proposed Stockholm Programme Action plan in June 2010, before the end of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Communication (proposal) by the European Commission under discussion:



Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens
Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme; Brussels, 20.4.2010; COM(2010) 171 final



If you have information about publications assessing the EU’s justice and home affairs (JHA) from a pan-European or national perspective, especially the Stockholm Programme or the proposal for the implementing Action Plan, please feel free to share them with the readers of Grahnlaw, by posting a comment or by sending me an e-mail.




Ralf Grahn