Justice ministers from the 25 member states will meet in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 January for an informal meeting on the implementation of the "Hague programme".
Ministers will discuss judicial and police co-operation at European level, including the mutual recognition of criminal judgments and a proposed European criminal record. This latter proposal, put forward in October 2004, would put in place a computerised system of information on criminal convictions of EU citizens, to be kept constantly updated and available for consultation by member states. UK civil liberties body Statewatch doubts that this measure can be justified in terms of the fight against terrorism.
Also on the agenda will be a discussion with Ruud Lubbers, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, on asylum, particularly relocation and accommodation of refugees and co-operation with transit countries.
On 25 January, Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini announced plans for a European fundamental rights agency. The agency, to be operational by January 2007, will extend the mandate of the European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia. Since December 2004, all legislative initiatives taken by the Commission have had to take into account the 2001 Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In addition, on 17 January, Michael Matthiesen was appointed as Personal Representative on Human rights to work with Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
