tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post5119315043667141065..comments2023-09-28T12:28:57.598+03:00Comments on Grahnlaw: EU justice: Towards the Stockholm programmeRalf Grahn http://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-81061719077221963752009-06-13T06:15:42.310+03:002009-06-13T06:15:42.310+03:00Ibis,
Your second question indicates the main ch...Ibis, <br /><br />Your second question indicates the main change, from 'third pillar' procedures to 'first pillar' procedures with regard to police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters. <br /><br />You are quite right to ask why common and more effective decision-making is preferable, because every choice rests on some assumptions.<br /><br />Here are some of mine, in somewhat telegraphic style: <br /><br />My primary question is, what is better for individuals and firms in the European Union? (As opposed to sterile arguments about 'sovereignty'.)<br /><br />We have an internal market, supposedly without borders, a common currency (euro), free travel without internal border controls, but with external borders as a task in common. <br /><br />Justice needs to follow as seamlessly as possible, because increased interaction leads to raising numbers of cases with cross-border characteristics.<br /><br />Security threats, like terrorism, and serious crime thrive across borders, if each government works exclusively on its own turf.<br /><br />I have the highest regard for a century of harmonisation of law through various international conferences, but the results are slow to come and often limited in scope. <br /><br />Intergovernmental cooperation is generally too slow and ineffective (unanimity principle, ratification). <br /><br />Intergovernmental cooperation is also lacking in openness and transparency. This is still a problem with the European Union, but public proposals by the Commission, elements of deliberation in public in the Council and participation by the European Parliament lessen the problem to a degree, at least in comparison with governments negotiating (internationally) or in the EU Council alone.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-52534491276616573142009-06-13T02:28:02.943+03:002009-06-13T02:28:02.943+03:00Might I ask in what way Lisbon represents a signif...Might I ask in what way Lisbon represents a significant step forward in respect of such programmes? And, further, whether you consider the move away from intergovernmentalism to be a positive or negative step in this respect?ibisnoreply@blogger.com