Few EU policy areas have as direct a bearing on citizens in the European Union (and outsiders) as justice and home affairs (JHA).
Time is running short for an informed public debate about major policy choices.
Do the next five years offer us EU citizens more freedoms and justice or ever increasing controls (security)? The implementation blueprint for the first five years under the Lisbon Treaty in the European Union’s area of freedom, security and justice (FSJ) is heading for final adoption in June 2010.
In a direct sense, the Action Plan, Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens ─Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme, is going to be the roadmap for future action by the European Union. Indirectly, potentially converging views at EU level may affect the thrust of justice and home affairs legislation and policies at national level.
Recap
The European Commission refers to document 17024/09 as the Stockholm Programme, whereas the Council seems to have replaced it by a new document 5731/10, without indicating the substitution or the reasons.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council has issued preliminary conclusions (8920/10) on the Commission Communication COM(2010) 171 final, the proposed Stockholm Progamme Action Plan. (See Grahnlaw: EU JHA Council Conclusions on Stockholm Programme Action Plan, 24 April 2010, as well as earlier blog posts on the Stockholm Programme.)
A week from adoption by the Commission, the Stockholm Programme Action Plan has now been posted visibly on Eur-Lex, under the latest COM documents made available. A few moments ago there were still only the three language versions we have mentioned and linked to earlier: English, French and German (with 20 official languages still missing less than two months ahead of final adoption).
Call for materials
In earlier blog posts, in addition to the basic documents, we have referred to contributions by Toby Archer (FIIA), Hugo Brady (CER), Tony Bunyan and Steve Peers (Statewatch), the House of Lords (European Union Committee) and others.
Now that the Lisbon Treaty has entered into force and the Stockholm Programme has been adopted, more is needed in order to achieve a borderless area of policy debate before the quinquennial landmarks are set in detail.
Dear Readers, please let us know about other relevant and timely materials.
Ralf Grahn
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Monday, 26 April 2010
Comments on UK House of Commons Library Note SN/IA/3689
The Grahnlaw blog post EU materials: European Union terminology, procedures and sources 2010 (26 April 2010) recommended:
UK House of Commons Library Note: The European Union: a guide to terminology, procedures and sources (Standard Note SN/IA/3689; last updated 24 March 2010; 14 pages; authors Vaughne Miller and Emma Clark)
The authors - Vaughne Miller and Emma Clark - are available to discuss the content of this briefing with Members and their staff, but not with the general public, but this does not prevent me from discussing the Standard Note with the authors, by the means of this blog post.
Although the comments I make are personal and the preferences I mention are matters of (idiosyncratic) taste, some of the following might serve the next update of the Library Note.
Lisbon Treaty
The Library Note was published about a week before the latest consolidated version of the Treaty of Lisbon, so the rectified version was not available at the time. The Lisbon Treaty is presented in a readable and updated format, more officially:
Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83.
Since we are only months away from the entry into force, I find the “Lisbon Treaty” to be a convenient shorthand expression for the current state of primary EU law. This may change with the next accession treaty or at least the next substantial treaty reform, so the terms “EU law” and “EU Treaties” employed by the authors are not only correct, but more timeless.
When we need to be more specific, we can refer to the individual treaties:
Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), or the
Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
EU Charter
The United Kingdom may have opted out, but at least the debate in English needs the latest version of the:
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83/389
Euratom
Luckily, we now have a readable version of the Euratom or EAEC Treaty:
Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 84
Member State
The authors discuss the use or not of capital letters.
Generally, I know that I shift not only from day to day, but often within the same blog post.
With regard to “member states” I prefer to write without capital letters, unless I quote EU documents, but this is only a matter of personal taste.
The European Council
The European Council, with the heads of state or government, is chaired by the President of the European Council, so part of the paragraph is outdated under the Lisbon Treaty.
The European Council does not exercise legislative functions, but it makes certain decisions based on the treaties (Article 15 TEU et al).
The Council of the European Union
There are now two Council formations (configurations) directly based on the TEU: the General Affairs Council (GAC) and the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) (Article 16 TEU).
The other Council configurations are adopted by the European Council (Articles 16 TEU, 236 TFEU; List of Council configurations, in OJEU 11.12.2009 L 325/51).
Legislation
The ordinary legislative procedure leads to legislative acts adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.
Then there are special legislative procedures (mainly Council legislation).
Commission legal acts are mainly delegated (implementing) acts.
Official Journal
Since the world is full of ‘Official Journals’, I prefer to use the abbreviation OJEU for the Official Journal of the European Union.
The same goes for the Court of Justice of the European Union, and here the authors use the abbreviation CJEU, as I do.
***
The comments may be exhausting, but they are not exhaustive. They are based on a brief tour of this Library Note, but I did not check all the questions.
Perhaps others can fill in, to make the next update even better(?)
Ralf Grahn
UK House of Commons Library Note: The European Union: a guide to terminology, procedures and sources (Standard Note SN/IA/3689; last updated 24 March 2010; 14 pages; authors Vaughne Miller and Emma Clark)
The authors - Vaughne Miller and Emma Clark - are available to discuss the content of this briefing with Members and their staff, but not with the general public, but this does not prevent me from discussing the Standard Note with the authors, by the means of this blog post.
Although the comments I make are personal and the preferences I mention are matters of (idiosyncratic) taste, some of the following might serve the next update of the Library Note.
Lisbon Treaty
The Library Note was published about a week before the latest consolidated version of the Treaty of Lisbon, so the rectified version was not available at the time. The Lisbon Treaty is presented in a readable and updated format, more officially:
Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83.
Since we are only months away from the entry into force, I find the “Lisbon Treaty” to be a convenient shorthand expression for the current state of primary EU law. This may change with the next accession treaty or at least the next substantial treaty reform, so the terms “EU law” and “EU Treaties” employed by the authors are not only correct, but more timeless.
When we need to be more specific, we can refer to the individual treaties:
Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), or the
Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
EU Charter
The United Kingdom may have opted out, but at least the debate in English needs the latest version of the:
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 83/389
Euratom
Luckily, we now have a readable version of the Euratom or EAEC Treaty:
Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community; OJEU 30.3.2010 C 84
Member State
The authors discuss the use or not of capital letters.
Generally, I know that I shift not only from day to day, but often within the same blog post.
With regard to “member states” I prefer to write without capital letters, unless I quote EU documents, but this is only a matter of personal taste.
The European Council
The European Council, with the heads of state or government, is chaired by the President of the European Council, so part of the paragraph is outdated under the Lisbon Treaty.
The European Council does not exercise legislative functions, but it makes certain decisions based on the treaties (Article 15 TEU et al).
The Council of the European Union
There are now two Council formations (configurations) directly based on the TEU: the General Affairs Council (GAC) and the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) (Article 16 TEU).
The other Council configurations are adopted by the European Council (Articles 16 TEU, 236 TFEU; List of Council configurations, in OJEU 11.12.2009 L 325/51).
Legislation
The ordinary legislative procedure leads to legislative acts adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.
Then there are special legislative procedures (mainly Council legislation).
Commission legal acts are mainly delegated (implementing) acts.
Official Journal
Since the world is full of ‘Official Journals’, I prefer to use the abbreviation OJEU for the Official Journal of the European Union.
The same goes for the Court of Justice of the European Union, and here the authors use the abbreviation CJEU, as I do.
***
The comments may be exhausting, but they are not exhaustive. They are based on a brief tour of this Library Note, but I did not check all the questions.
Perhaps others can fill in, to make the next update even better(?)
Ralf Grahn
EU materials: European Union terminology, procedures and sources 2010
Much of the existing literature on the European Union was published before the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December 2009.
Outdated references to institutions, powers, procedures, legal bases, terms etc. tend to obscure the discussion on European Union affairs.
In the United Kingdom, the House of Commons Library does a great public service by producing Standard Notes on various subjects.
With regard to the European Union, I would like to draw attention to a Standard Note, which was updated recently, with the following aim:
UK House of Commons Library Note: The European Union: a guide to terminology, procedures and sources (Standard Note SN/IA/3689; last updated 24 March 2010; 14 pages; authors Vaughne Miller and Emma Clark)
Contents
1 Introduction 3
2 European ‘Community’, ‘Communities’ and ‘Union’ 3
3 The three ‘Pillars’ 4
4 EC law or EU law? 4
5 Treaty of Rome or Treaty of Lisbon? What to call the Treaty 5
6 Referencing Treaty articles 5
7 “Member State”: use of capital letters 5
8 European Council, Council of Ministers, Council of Europe 6
8.1 The European Council 6
8.2 The Council 6
8.3 The Council of Europe 7
9 European Courts 7
10 Legal instruments 7
11 Council and Commission legislation 8
12 The Acquis Communautaire 8
13 Official Journal 8
14 Legislative procedures 8
14.1 Ordinary Legislative Procedure 8
14.2 Consent 9
14.3 Consultation 9
15 Searching for EU legislation and documentation 10
15.1 Searching in Europe 10
15.2 Searching in the Member States 10
15.3 Searching in PIMS 10
16 Current information on the EU 11
16.1 Institutions 11
16.2 On-line news sources 12
16.3 Recent and forthcoming events 12
16.4 Addresses and telephone numbers 12
17 Reading List 13
17.1 General publications 13
17.2 European Union publications 13
17.3 House of Commons Library publications 13
17.4 Official Publications 14
In addition to Members of Parliament, this Standard Note is a most welcome reference for students of EU law and politics, as well as journalists reporting on European affairs.
Ralf Grahn
Outdated references to institutions, powers, procedures, legal bases, terms etc. tend to obscure the discussion on European Union affairs.
In the United Kingdom, the House of Commons Library does a great public service by producing Standard Notes on various subjects.
With regard to the European Union, I would like to draw attention to a Standard Note, which was updated recently, with the following aim:
This Note aims to clarify some of the terminology used to describe the institutions, laws and procedures of the European Union. It also provides links to useful sources of information on the EU.
UK House of Commons Library Note: The European Union: a guide to terminology, procedures and sources (Standard Note SN/IA/3689; last updated 24 March 2010; 14 pages; authors Vaughne Miller and Emma Clark)
Contents
1 Introduction 3
2 European ‘Community’, ‘Communities’ and ‘Union’ 3
3 The three ‘Pillars’ 4
4 EC law or EU law? 4
5 Treaty of Rome or Treaty of Lisbon? What to call the Treaty 5
6 Referencing Treaty articles 5
7 “Member State”: use of capital letters 5
8 European Council, Council of Ministers, Council of Europe 6
8.1 The European Council 6
8.2 The Council 6
8.3 The Council of Europe 7
9 European Courts 7
10 Legal instruments 7
11 Council and Commission legislation 8
12 The Acquis Communautaire 8
13 Official Journal 8
14 Legislative procedures 8
14.1 Ordinary Legislative Procedure 8
14.2 Consent 9
14.3 Consultation 9
15 Searching for EU legislation and documentation 10
15.1 Searching in Europe 10
15.2 Searching in the Member States 10
15.3 Searching in PIMS 10
16 Current information on the EU 11
16.1 Institutions 11
16.2 On-line news sources 12
16.3 Recent and forthcoming events 12
16.4 Addresses and telephone numbers 12
17 Reading List 13
17.1 General publications 13
17.2 European Union publications 13
17.3 House of Commons Library publications 13
17.4 Official Publications 14
In addition to Members of Parliament, this Standard Note is a most welcome reference for students of EU law and politics, as well as journalists reporting on European affairs.
Ralf Grahn
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Calling European bloggers: Spread the word about My Europe Week
The editors of Bloggingportal.eu invite bloggers to participate in a blog carnival, by presenting their visions for the future of Europe between 3 May and Europe Day 9 May 2010, in the language of their choice.
You can submit a text or link to a post on your own blog.
But first the word has to be spread. We have a small beginning, but we need your help: more posts in more languages to make people aware of My Europe Week.
Here are the posts and languages I have noticed this far.
English
Stephen Spillane: My Europe Week – Celebrating Europe Day Online (19 April 2010)
Grahnlaw (in English): My Europe Week is about your vision for Europe (22 April 2010)
Mathew Lowry’s Tagsmanian Devil: What Europe do you want? The My Europe Week Blog Carnival is coming (23 april 2010)
Deutsch
Martin på Europaeum: Wer Visionen hat, sollte bloggen (20 april 2010)
Svenska
(bloggen.fi) Grahnlaw: Din vision för Europa: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Grahnblawg: Inför Europadagen: Din vision för Europa på My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Suomi
Grahnlaw (blogs.fi): Sinun Eurooppa-visiosi: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Eurooppaoikeus: Kutsu blogikarnevaaliin: My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Ralf Grahn
P.S. You can participate under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay on Twitter.
You can submit a text or link to a post on your own blog.
But first the word has to be spread. We have a small beginning, but we need your help: more posts in more languages to make people aware of My Europe Week.
Here are the posts and languages I have noticed this far.
English
Stephen Spillane: My Europe Week – Celebrating Europe Day Online (19 April 2010)
Grahnlaw (in English): My Europe Week is about your vision for Europe (22 April 2010)
Mathew Lowry’s Tagsmanian Devil: What Europe do you want? The My Europe Week Blog Carnival is coming (23 april 2010)
Deutsch
Martin på Europaeum: Wer Visionen hat, sollte bloggen (20 april 2010)
Svenska
(bloggen.fi) Grahnlaw: Din vision för Europa: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Grahnblawg: Inför Europadagen: Din vision för Europa på My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Suomi
Grahnlaw (blogs.fi): Sinun Eurooppa-visiosi: My Europe Week (23 April 2010)
Eurooppaoikeus: Kutsu blogikarnevaaliin: My Europe Week (25 April 2010)
Ralf Grahn
P.S. You can participate under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay on Twitter.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
EU JHA Council Conclusions on Stockholm Programme Action Plan
This blog post is about the EU JHA Council Conclusions on Stockholm Programme Action Plan, a crucial building block in the area of freedom, security and justice (FSJ).
The provisional Conclusions of the EU JHA Council meeting were published in English Friday evening:
3008th Council meeting Justice and Home Affairs, Brussels, 23 April 2010 (document 8920/10)
Stockholm Programme
The Commission JHA web pages refer to document 17024/09 of 2 December 2009 as the Stockholm Programme, here as a link through the website of the Swedish Council presidency and here as an earlier direct link to the document:
The Stockholm Programme – An open and secure Europe serving and protecting the citizens; Brussels, 2 December 2009; document 17024/09
However, in the 23 April 2010 Conclusions, the Justice and Home Affairs Council refers to document 5371/10 as the Stockholm Programme, without indicating the document(s) it replaces, if any:
The Stockholm Programme - An open and secure Europe serving and protecting citizens; Brussels, 3 March 2010; Council document 5731/10
With some attention to detail, the Council and the Commission could make life easier for readers.
Conclusions: Stockholm Programme Action Plan
In the Grahnlaw blog post EU JHA: Stockholm Programme Action Plan in English, French and German (24 April 2010) we linked to the three existing language versions of the Commission Communication COM(2010) 171 final.
(The Council has registered it as document 8895/10; 22 April 2010. The Communication has not yet been registered on the Legislative Observatory of the European Parliament, Oeil.)
By the way, the Commission Communication refers to the Stockholm Programme as: Council document 17024/09, adopted by the European Council on 10/11 December 2009 (page 2, footnote 1).
The Justice and the Home Affairs Ministers, or their substitutes during this meeting with reduced attendance, were given a presentation of the Commission’s proposal, which is meant to guide implementation of the Stockholm Programme.
The JHA Council conclusions (8920/10) indicate that the Council wants to influence the final version, and that final adoption is scheduled for June 2010 (page 8). Here is the text, including the typos:
But we are hardly much wiser as to the coming consultations.
Ralf Grahn
The provisional Conclusions of the EU JHA Council meeting were published in English Friday evening:
3008th Council meeting Justice and Home Affairs, Brussels, 23 April 2010 (document 8920/10)
Stockholm Programme
The Commission JHA web pages refer to document 17024/09 of 2 December 2009 as the Stockholm Programme, here as a link through the website of the Swedish Council presidency and here as an earlier direct link to the document:
The Stockholm Programme – An open and secure Europe serving and protecting the citizens; Brussels, 2 December 2009; document 17024/09
However, in the 23 April 2010 Conclusions, the Justice and Home Affairs Council refers to document 5371/10 as the Stockholm Programme, without indicating the document(s) it replaces, if any:
The Stockholm Programme - An open and secure Europe serving and protecting citizens; Brussels, 3 March 2010; Council document 5731/10
With some attention to detail, the Council and the Commission could make life easier for readers.
Conclusions: Stockholm Programme Action Plan
In the Grahnlaw blog post EU JHA: Stockholm Programme Action Plan in English, French and German (24 April 2010) we linked to the three existing language versions of the Commission Communication COM(2010) 171 final.
(The Council has registered it as document 8895/10; 22 April 2010. The Communication has not yet been registered on the Legislative Observatory of the European Parliament, Oeil.)
By the way, the Commission Communication refers to the Stockholm Programme as: Council document 17024/09, adopted by the European Council on 10/11 December 2009 (page 2, footnote 1).
The Justice and the Home Affairs Ministers, or their substitutes during this meeting with reduced attendance, were given a presentation of the Commission’s proposal, which is meant to guide implementation of the Stockholm Programme.
The JHA Council conclusions (8920/10) indicate that the Council wants to influence the final version, and that final adoption is scheduled for June 2010 (page 8). Here is the text, including the typos:
ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTING THE STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME
Justice and home affairs ministers heard presentations by the Commission on its recommendations for an action plan implementing the Stockholm Programme (5731/10). Ministers welcomed the Commission paper, stressed, however, that the action plan should more closely mirror the objectives set out in the Stockholm Programme itself. The Council asked its preparatory bodies to swiftly start consultations on the action plan with a view to adopt the it in June 2010.
The Stockholm Programme is the multi-annual strategic work programme in the area of freedom, security and justice. It was adopted by the Council on 30 November 2009 and endorsed by the European Council on 10-11 December 2009. It sets out the priorities for EU action in the area for the next five years (2010-14). It puts the citizen at the heart of EU action and deals, among other things, with questions of citizenship, justice and security as well as asylum, migration and the external dimension of justice and home affairs.
It is ten years since the EU set itself the target of creating an area of freedom, justice and security. The Stockholm Programme will built on the progress made during the implementation of the Tampere Programme (2000-2004) and the Hague Programme (2005-2010).
But we are hardly much wiser as to the coming consultations.
Ralf Grahn
EU JHA: Stockholm Programme Action Plan in English, French and German
Earlier we linked to the English version of the Communication, which had been published. We have now been able to locate French and German language versions of the European Union’s Stockholm Programme Action Plan for justice and home affairs (JHA) 2010-2014. Thus, the three working languages of the European Commission are covered, but we still miss the text of COM(2010) 171 final in 20 official EU languages.
English
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
French
Mettre en place un espace de liberté, de sécurité et de justice au service des citoyens européens - Plan d'action mettant en oeuvre le programme de Stockholm ; Bruxelles, le 20.4.2010 ; COM(2010) 171 final
German
Ein Raum der Freiheit, der Sicherheit und des Rechts für die Bürger Europas - Aktionsplan zur Umsetzung des Stockholmer Programms; Brüssel, den 20.4.2010; KOM(2010) 171 endgültig
Ralf Grahn
English
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
French
Mettre en place un espace de liberté, de sécurité et de justice au service des citoyens européens - Plan d'action mettant en oeuvre le programme de Stockholm ; Bruxelles, le 20.4.2010 ; COM(2010) 171 final
German
Ein Raum der Freiheit, der Sicherheit und des Rechts für die Bürger Europas - Aktionsplan zur Umsetzung des Stockholmer Programms; Brüssel, den 20.4.2010; KOM(2010) 171 endgültig
Ralf Grahn
Friday, 23 April 2010
EU JHA Council: Stockholm Programme Action Plan
Ahead of the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council today, 23 April 2010, in Brussels, the European Commission has issued a brief outline of the matters to be discussed:
Justice and Home Affairs Council: 23 April 2010 in Brussels (22 April 2010; MEMO/10/148)
The Stockholm Programme Action Plan, to be presented by the Commission, is still available only in English:
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; 69 pages).
Since there has been practically no opportunity for experts or the public to digest the proposed actions, we point out a few contributions of a more general nature, which we have not mentioned before.
Toby Archer
The Stockholm Programme had hardly been anointed by the European Council, when Toby Archer of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs published a briefing paper:
The Stockholm Programme: Europe’s next step to be an “area of freedom, security and justice” (Briefing paper 49; 15 December 2009; 7 pages)
Archer’s briefing paper is a good introduction to the development of the EU’s area of freedom, security and justice (FSJ), and to some of the sensitive issues affecting future work.
Hugo Brady
Hugo Brady, of the UK based think tank the Centre for European Reform (CER), gave a critical assessment of EU justice and home affairs, as well as the Stockholm Programme:
The seven sins of Stockholm (on CER website; published in E!Sharp magazineMarch/April 2010)
Tony Bunyan
In Tony Bunyan’s view the the values the Commission professes and the actions it proposes are at odds in the Action Plan:
Statewatch Analysis: Commission: Action Plan on the Stockholm Programme: A bit more freedom and justice and a lot more security (no date; 12 pages)
Ralf Grahn
Justice and Home Affairs Council: 23 April 2010 in Brussels (22 April 2010; MEMO/10/148)
The Stockholm Programme Action Plan, to be presented by the Commission, is still available only in English:
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; 69 pages).
Since there has been practically no opportunity for experts or the public to digest the proposed actions, we point out a few contributions of a more general nature, which we have not mentioned before.
Toby Archer
The Stockholm Programme had hardly been anointed by the European Council, when Toby Archer of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs published a briefing paper:
The Stockholm Programme: Europe’s next step to be an “area of freedom, security and justice” (Briefing paper 49; 15 December 2009; 7 pages)
Archer’s briefing paper is a good introduction to the development of the EU’s area of freedom, security and justice (FSJ), and to some of the sensitive issues affecting future work.
Hugo Brady
Hugo Brady, of the UK based think tank the Centre for European Reform (CER), gave a critical assessment of EU justice and home affairs, as well as the Stockholm Programme:
The seven sins of Stockholm (on CER website; published in E!Sharp magazineMarch/April 2010)
Tony Bunyan
In Tony Bunyan’s view the the values the Commission professes and the actions it proposes are at odds in the Action Plan:
Statewatch Analysis: Commission: Action Plan on the Stockholm Programme: A bit more freedom and justice and a lot more security (no date; 12 pages)
Ralf Grahn
Thursday, 22 April 2010
My Europe Week is about your vision for the EU
The editors of Bloggingportal.eu have decided to call for personal visions of the future of Europe in the 21st century, under the theme My Europe Week.
From 3 May to Europe Day 9 May 2010 you can write a blog post on the new My Europe Week blog, set up by Stephen Spillane and with a logo designed by Martin of Europaeum.
Alternatively, you can link a post on your own blog to My Europe Week.
On Twitter you can follow the discussion under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Bloggers of Europe, unite … in diversity(?) Or was it adversity?
Ralf Grahn
From 3 May to Europe Day 9 May 2010 you can write a blog post on the new My Europe Week blog, set up by Stephen Spillane and with a logo designed by Martin of Europaeum.
Alternatively, you can link a post on your own blog to My Europe Week.
On Twitter you can follow the discussion under the hashtags #MyEurope and #EuropeDay.
Bloggers of Europe, unite … in diversity(?) Or was it adversity?
Ralf Grahn
EU JHA: Stockholm Programme Action Plan published in English
Yesterday we noted on Grahnblawg (in Swedish) the materials we were able to locate with regard to the Action Plan for the Stockholm Programme, the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Programme for 2010-2014.
At the time, we did not find the Action Plan itself. We were perplexed by the Commission referring to the Swedish presidency web pages instead of the final version of the Stockholm Programme. Council document 5371/10 was headlined as the Stockholm Programme, but its meaning was left unclear.
Since then, we can take note of at least one improvement.
The European Commission has now published the final version of its communication COM(2010) 171 in English, in the newsroom of the Commission’s Area of freedom, security and justice (Justice and Home Affairs):
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; 69 pages).
There are no indications yet about other language versions of this important document.
The Commission is going to present the proposed Action Plan to the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council meeting tomorrow, 23 April 2010, exceptionally meeting in Brussels in April (instead of Luxembourg).
Ralf Grahn
At the time, we did not find the Action Plan itself. We were perplexed by the Commission referring to the Swedish presidency web pages instead of the final version of the Stockholm Programme. Council document 5371/10 was headlined as the Stockholm Programme, but its meaning was left unclear.
Since then, we can take note of at least one improvement.
The European Commission has now published the final version of its communication COM(2010) 171 in English, in the newsroom of the Commission’s Area of freedom, security and justice (Justice and Home Affairs):
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; 69 pages).
There are no indications yet about other language versions of this important document.
The Commission is going to present the proposed Action Plan to the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council meeting tomorrow, 23 April 2010, exceptionally meeting in Brussels in April (instead of Luxembourg).
Ralf Grahn
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
EU materials: House of Lords and Sweden
Legal acts of the European Union are not always from the master class of clarity. Especially first time readers often have a hard time understanding the meaning. There is a need for explanation and clarification, as well as evaluation outside the partly opaque processes leading to EU legislation.
Where to find help?
House of Lords
In the United Kingdom, we have the European Union Committee of the House of Lords, producing thoughtful reports on EU issues, evaluating important policy areas. But the patchy participation of Britain in EU activities influences the choice of subjects, and it affects the reasoning to a degree.
Where a fresh report of the HL European Union Committee exists, it is usually a valuable source for understanding the subject matter.
Sweden
Sweden is an EU member state somewhat more in line with the EU mainstream (exceptions: euro currency and NATO membership).
The Swedish government’s web design is exemplary. You can easily find the subject matters, and you can advance from web pages with brief information to detailed documents without a hitch.
You can access the document search for all types of publications from the front page, and the search function actually works (which cannot be said about many government or EU websites).
Sweden has a tradition of thorough preparation of legislation, including matters related to the European Union. Each step on the way is documented and accessible, from committee directives to updated legal acts.
Sweden has invested a lot of effort to make public communications, including official documents, clear and readable (“klarspråk”).
Without changing the intrinsic nature of the European Union, Sweden managed to set the gold standard for EU Council communications during its presidency, including the design of its website and the use of social media.
The main limit to the wider use of Swedish EU and general legal materials is the language. There are about 20 million native speakers of Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, able to read information in Swedish.
But it should not stop the European Union and member state governments from emulating and improving on Swedish style communications.
Ralf Grahn
Where to find help?
House of Lords
In the United Kingdom, we have the European Union Committee of the House of Lords, producing thoughtful reports on EU issues, evaluating important policy areas. But the patchy participation of Britain in EU activities influences the choice of subjects, and it affects the reasoning to a degree.
Where a fresh report of the HL European Union Committee exists, it is usually a valuable source for understanding the subject matter.
Sweden
Sweden is an EU member state somewhat more in line with the EU mainstream (exceptions: euro currency and NATO membership).
The Swedish government’s web design is exemplary. You can easily find the subject matters, and you can advance from web pages with brief information to detailed documents without a hitch.
You can access the document search for all types of publications from the front page, and the search function actually works (which cannot be said about many government or EU websites).
Sweden has a tradition of thorough preparation of legislation, including matters related to the European Union. Each step on the way is documented and accessible, from committee directives to updated legal acts.
Sweden has invested a lot of effort to make public communications, including official documents, clear and readable (“klarspråk”).
Without changing the intrinsic nature of the European Union, Sweden managed to set the gold standard for EU Council communications during its presidency, including the design of its website and the use of social media.
The main limit to the wider use of Swedish EU and general legal materials is the language. There are about 20 million native speakers of Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, able to read information in Swedish.
But it should not stop the European Union and member state governments from emulating and improving on Swedish style communications.
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 19 April 2010
EU Visa Code and Visa Handbook
Every year, millions of third country nationals come into contact with consular representations of the Schengen states in order to visit one or more of the 25 countries of common travel area. Some 10.4 million visas were issued in 2008.
In addition to the applicants (incoming travelers), the EU (Community) Visa Code affects friends, relatives and businesses in the Schengen states.
Officially it is called the Community Code on Visas, but with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon the European Community melted into the European Union (EU). Thus, we speak about the EU Visa Code, when we refer to:
REGULATION (EC) No 810/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code); published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) 15.9.2009 L 243/1.
Visa Handbook 2010
Operational instructions on the practical application of the provisions of the Regulation 810/2009 have been drawn up in view of ensuring a harmonised implementation of these provisions.
Only the Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish texts are authentic. [Not Danish, English or Irish.]
Ironically, at this time I was able to locate the fresh Visa Handbook only in English and two other working languages of the European Commission:
COMMISSION DECISION of 19.3.2010 establishing the Handbook for the processing of visa applications and the modification of issued visas; C(2010) 1620 final
DÉCISION DE LA COMMISSION du 19.3.2010 établissant le Manuel relatif au traitement des demandes de visa et à la modification des visas; C(1620) final
BESCHLUSS DER KOMMISSION vom 19.03.2010 über ein Handbuch für die Bearbeitung von Visumanträgen und die Änderung von bereits erteilten Visa; K(2010) 1620 endgültig
Perhaps the consular staffs and the public can expect to find the missing language versions published in the OJEU one of these days.
Ralf Grahn
In addition to the applicants (incoming travelers), the EU (Community) Visa Code affects friends, relatives and businesses in the Schengen states.
Officially it is called the Community Code on Visas, but with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon the European Community melted into the European Union (EU). Thus, we speak about the EU Visa Code, when we refer to:
REGULATION (EC) No 810/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code); published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) 15.9.2009 L 243/1.
Visa Handbook 2010
Operational instructions on the practical application of the provisions of the Regulation 810/2009 have been drawn up in view of ensuring a harmonised implementation of these provisions.
Only the Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish texts are authentic. [Not Danish, English or Irish.]
Ironically, at this time I was able to locate the fresh Visa Handbook only in English and two other working languages of the European Commission:
COMMISSION DECISION of 19.3.2010 establishing the Handbook for the processing of visa applications and the modification of issued visas; C(2010) 1620 final
DÉCISION DE LA COMMISSION du 19.3.2010 établissant le Manuel relatif au traitement des demandes de visa et à la modification des visas; C(1620) final
BESCHLUSS DER KOMMISSION vom 19.03.2010 über ein Handbuch für die Bearbeitung von Visumanträgen und die Änderung von bereits erteilten Visa; K(2010) 1620 endgültig
Perhaps the consular staffs and the public can expect to find the missing language versions published in the OJEU one of these days.
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Report on Sweden’s EU Council Presidency
The Swedish government has published a report on its presidency of the Council of the European Union during the second half of 2009 (in Swedish):
Regeringens skrivelse 2009/10:174 Redogörelse för det svenska ordförandeskapet i Europeiska unionens råd andra halvåret 2009 (31 March 2010; 69 pages).
This special report describes how the Swedish government prepared for the presidency and how it was put into practice. The main achievements are noted, as well as the costs.
Even if Sweden handled the last EU Council presidency under the old Nice Treaty rules, the report is valuable for future presidencies and students of EU politics. For instance, the text on Sweden’s successful web communications is worth noting.
General Reports
With pictures, charts and graphic design, the European Commission’s General Report on the Activities of the European Union 2009 has become shorter and lighter than its predecessors (132 pages), and the monthly Bulletin has been discontinued.
There are, of course, a plethora of special reports and news pages, but for a comprehensive view of the main events in the European Union, few beat the traditional annual general report of the Swedish government:
Regeringens skrivelse 2009/10:150 Berättelse om verksamheten i Europeiska unionen under 2009 (410 pages).
The Swedish annual report has become an even more valuable resource for those who know enough of a Nordic language to be able to read Swedish.
Ralf Grahn
Regeringens skrivelse 2009/10:174 Redogörelse för det svenska ordförandeskapet i Europeiska unionens råd andra halvåret 2009 (31 March 2010; 69 pages).
This special report describes how the Swedish government prepared for the presidency and how it was put into practice. The main achievements are noted, as well as the costs.
Even if Sweden handled the last EU Council presidency under the old Nice Treaty rules, the report is valuable for future presidencies and students of EU politics. For instance, the text on Sweden’s successful web communications is worth noting.
General Reports
With pictures, charts and graphic design, the European Commission’s General Report on the Activities of the European Union 2009 has become shorter and lighter than its predecessors (132 pages), and the monthly Bulletin has been discontinued.
There are, of course, a plethora of special reports and news pages, but for a comprehensive view of the main events in the European Union, few beat the traditional annual general report of the Swedish government:
Regeringens skrivelse 2009/10:150 Berättelse om verksamheten i Europeiska unionen under 2009 (410 pages).
The Swedish annual report has become an even more valuable resource for those who know enough of a Nordic language to be able to read Swedish.
Ralf Grahn
Friday, 16 April 2010
Updated Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) published
We return to an old friend we have followed here on Grahnlaw. A codified (updated and readable) version of the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, in the official languages of the EU:
DIRECTIVE 2010/13/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) (codified version); OJEU 15.4.2010 L 95/1.
For explanations you can go to the European Commission’s introductory web page Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), which offers a number of useful links (language alternatives: English, French and German).
Ralf Grahn
DIRECTIVE 2010/13/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) (codified version); OJEU 15.4.2010 L 95/1.
For explanations you can go to the European Commission’s introductory web page Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), which offers a number of useful links (language alternatives: English, French and German).
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 12 April 2010
New EU Visa Code affects millions
On 5 April 2010 the new EU Visa Code became applicable, concerning short-stay visas (for 90 days). The Visa Code affects third-country nationals, who want to travel to the 22 EU states and the three non-EU members of the Schengen area, without internal border controls. More than 10 million visas were issued in 2008.
Of the EU member states Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania have not yet made it into the Schengen zone. Ireland and the United Kingdom have chosen to remain outside.
The three non-EU Schengen member states are Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Here is a roundup of news reports and comments aimed at the general public:
BBC News: EU harmonises Schengen visa rules (5 April 2010)
Deutsche Welle: EU unveils improved Schengen visa application system (5 April 2010)
Radio Netherlands Worldwide: EU visa deal will ease travel for millions (6 April 2010)
EUobserver.com, Andrew Rettman: EU relaxes rules on short-stay visas (6 April 2010)
RTT News: EU Unveils New Visa Application System For Schengen Zone (5 April 2010)
Voice of Russia, Ilya Kharlamov: Schengen more transparent but not more accessible (5 April 2010)
Novinite.com: EU Streamlines Schengen Visa System (5 April 2010)
EU Commission
A press release, available in 22 languages, from the European Commission outlined the main changes: A step forward for the common visa policy: the EU Visa Code becomes applicable (IP/10/387; 30 March 2010).
MEMO/10/111 of 30 March 2010, published only in English, offered more exact details and references, including to the legal acts: The EU Visa Code will apply from 5 April 2010.
Ralf Grahn
Of the EU member states Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania have not yet made it into the Schengen zone. Ireland and the United Kingdom have chosen to remain outside.
The three non-EU Schengen member states are Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Here is a roundup of news reports and comments aimed at the general public:
BBC News: EU harmonises Schengen visa rules (5 April 2010)
Deutsche Welle: EU unveils improved Schengen visa application system (5 April 2010)
Radio Netherlands Worldwide: EU visa deal will ease travel for millions (6 April 2010)
EUobserver.com, Andrew Rettman: EU relaxes rules on short-stay visas (6 April 2010)
RTT News: EU Unveils New Visa Application System For Schengen Zone (5 April 2010)
Voice of Russia, Ilya Kharlamov: Schengen more transparent but not more accessible (5 April 2010)
Novinite.com: EU Streamlines Schengen Visa System (5 April 2010)
EU Commission
A press release, available in 22 languages, from the European Commission outlined the main changes: A step forward for the common visa policy: the EU Visa Code becomes applicable (IP/10/387; 30 March 2010).
MEMO/10/111 of 30 March 2010, published only in English, offered more exact details and references, including to the legal acts: The EU Visa Code will apply from 5 April 2010.
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Freedom to travel: Schengen long-stay visas
Third-country nationals legally residing in the Schengen area on the basis of a long-stay visa have been unable to travel to other member states during their stay or to transit through the territories of other (EU) member states when returning to their home country.
A new EU Regulation now extends the principle of equivalence between residence permits and short-stay visas issued by the Member States, fully implementing the Schengen acquis to long-stay visas. As a result, a long-stay visa should have the same effects as a residence permit as regards the freedom of movement of the holder in the Schengen Area.
A third-country national holding a long-stay visa issued by a Member State should therefore be allowed to travel to other Member States for three months in any six- month period, under the same conditions as the holder of a residence permit. The Regulation does not affect the rules regarding the conditions for issuing long-stay visas:
Regulation (EU) No 265/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 March 2010 amending the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 as regards movement of persons with a long-stay visa; published OJEU 31.3.2010 L 85/1.
The directly applicable Regulation 265/2010 entered into force on 5 April 2010.
The United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part in the new arrangement.
Ralf Grahn
A new EU Regulation now extends the principle of equivalence between residence permits and short-stay visas issued by the Member States, fully implementing the Schengen acquis to long-stay visas. As a result, a long-stay visa should have the same effects as a residence permit as regards the freedom of movement of the holder in the Schengen Area.
A third-country national holding a long-stay visa issued by a Member State should therefore be allowed to travel to other Member States for three months in any six- month period, under the same conditions as the holder of a residence permit. The Regulation does not affect the rules regarding the conditions for issuing long-stay visas:
Regulation (EU) No 265/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 March 2010 amending the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 as regards movement of persons with a long-stay visa; published OJEU 31.3.2010 L 85/1.
The directly applicable Regulation 265/2010 entered into force on 5 April 2010.
The United Kingdom and Ireland do not take part in the new arrangement.
Ralf Grahn
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