Barroso wants to boost EU justice and security policy

The Commission President proposes to use existing treaties to allow tighter cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

Commission President Barroso does not want to wait for a new consensus on the shipwrecked constitution. Thus, on 8 May, he launched the idea of fully exploiting the existing “headroom” in the present treaties.

The goal is to come up with answers in the area of the fight against crime and terrorism because it “is increasingly becoming a concern of people in Europe. The most effective response in the field of security is the European response. People are asking for “more Europe” in order to combat terrorism and organised crime,” argues Barroso.

The Commission will therefore propose “that specific actions of the so-called ‘third pillar’ become subject to the Community regime.” This would mean giving up national vetoes, a move which Barroso acknowledges would require “political resolve”  .  
Both the UK and Denmark have previously been hesitant to make such a move.

Earlier in May, Finland announced that it wants to try to reform the rules, when it takes over the rotating EU presidency from July 1. This move received backing from Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini.

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