Highlights of Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting of 20 November 2015
Main results
Following the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris, justice and home affairs ministers met in Brussels to ensure the follow-up of existing measures and discussed how to strengthen the EU response by adopting a set of conclusions.
The Council recalled the urgency and importance it attaches to the European Passenger Name Record directive. The Presidency maintains its aim of finalising this dossier before the end of this year.
Etienne Schneider, Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Security and President of the Council
Ministers underlined the importance of accelerating the implementation of all areas covered by the statement on counter-terrorism issued by the Members of the European Council of 12 February 2015 and in particular of the following measures: EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive, firearms, controls of external borders, information sharing, terrorist financing, criminal justice response to terrorism and violent extremism.
Significant work has been accomplished on the ground. Work on integration, de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration is a lengthy process. Everyone who works in this area deserves our full support.
Félix Braz, Luxembourg Minister of Justice and President of the Council
Etienne Schneider, Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Security and President of the Council said: "The Council recalled the urgency and importance it attaches to the European Passenger Name Record directive. The Presidency maintains its aim of finalising this dossier before the end of this year. We have to negotiate an effective and operational directive which should include internal flights and a reasonable data retention period, and which should not be limited to crimes of a transnational nature. That is the negotiating mandate which was confirmed today by the Council."
Ministers also adopted, without discussion, a set of conclusions on enhancing the criminal justice response to radicalisation leading to terrorism and violent extremism.
Félix Braz, Luxembourg Minister of Justice and President of the Council said: "Significant work has been accomplished on the ground. Work on integration, de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration is a lengthy process. Everyone who works in this area deserves our full support."
- Conclusions of the Council of the European Union and of the Member States meeting within the Council on enhancing the criminal justice response to radicalisation leading to terrorism and violent extremism
- Response to foreign terrorist fighters and recent terrorist attacks in Europe (background information)
