Article by Mr Charalampos Athanasiou, Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights

 

Next week we will welcome in Athens the Justice Ministers of the EU Member States. The Informal meeting of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) is the first Informal Council to be held under the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

 

The Informal Council will address very important issues which are also prioritised by the Hellenic Presidency in the field of Justice. The Presidency intends to continue the efforts undertaken by all Member States towards a fair Europe that cares for and is close to its citizens. A place where policies are based on democracy, fairness and respect for human rights.

 

One of the key priorities for the Presidency is to work on future developments in the area of freedom, security and justice (post-Stockholm period). It is fair to say that the JHA area has brought about some of the most profound changes in the EU over the last two decades, as it is a policy field with direct influence on the lives of citizens and on the operation of businesses. Ever since the Tampere programme was adopted in 1999, multi-annual programmes have provided a comprehensive framework for the development of the JHA area. The Stockholm programme for Justice and Home Affairs defined the development of an area of freedom, security and justice for the years 2010-2014. Now is the right time to discuss the future development of the JHA area in view of the European Council in June 2014, which will define strategic guidelines for legislative and operational planning in the area of freedom, security and justice.

 

Besides the future development of the JHA area, the Hellenic Presidency seeks to ensure a high level of data protection for European citizens. In today's globalised world, individuals' rights must continue to be ensured when personal data are transferred from the EU to third countries and international organisations as well as when data subjects in the EU are affected and their data are processed by third country controllers regardless of the geographical location of a company or its processing facility. In the past Greece expressed its support for the efforts made by all previous Presidencies to reach a general approach to the Data Protection Regulation’s provisions. During the meeting with my colleagues next week we will consider the international aspect of the Regulation. Special focus will be given to the implementation of Chapter 5, which deals with the transfer of personal data to third countries or international organisations. 

 

I am optimistic that the Presidency can achieve progress in these issues and thereby contribute to the deepening of the Union and the improvement of the lives of European citizens. Despite the difficulties of the economic crisis, Greece has the chance to show during the Presidency of the EU that it is an equal Member State, capable to direct the proceedings of the Council in the name of all 28 Member States.

 

The first major Ministerial meeting of the Hellenic EU Presidency takes place in Zappeion Megaron in Athens on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 January. In this article Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights, Charalampos Athanasiou, highlights some of the priorities of the Presidency in the field of Justice.