Justice programme 2028-2034

PURPOSE: to establish the Justice programme for the period 2028-2034 and to repeal Regulation (EU) 2021/693.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND:  on 16 July 2025, the European Commission unveiled its proposal for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2028-2034, a EUR 2 trillion budget designed to strengthen Europe's sovereignty, competitiveness, and resilience. This new MFF will significantly enhance the EU's capacity to deliver on core policies while addressing new and emerging priorities.

Based on the positive experience from the implementation of the previous Justice programmes, the Commission proposes to continue the implementation of the new programme, with direct management by the Commission and a limited number of initiatives implemented under indirect management (for example by international organisations and public law bodies) in accordance with the Financial Regulation (Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509).

This proposal sets out the legal basis for the Justice programme for the period 2028-2034.

CONTENT: the proposed regulation establishes the Justice Programme and lays down the objectives of the programme, its budget for the period 2028-2034, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.

Objectives

The general objective of the proposed 2028-2034 Justice programme is to contribute to the further development of an efficient, inclusive, resilient and digitalised Union area of justice, based on the rule of law, mutual recognition and mutual trust. By achieving this objective, the programme will also strengthen democracy and the protection of fundamental rights and contribute to growth and competitiveness.

The general objective will be achieved through three specific objectives:

- to facilitate and support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, and to promote the rule of law, in particular the independence, quality and efficiency of justice systems, including through improving the effective cross-border recognition and enforcement of judicial decisions;

- to promote and support training of the judiciary and judicial staff, with a view to promoting the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy, fostering a common legal and judicial culture, ensuring the consistent and effective implementation of the relevant Union legal instruments and providing a supportive environment for the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and justice systems;

- to facilitate and support effective and non-discriminatory access to justice for all and effective remedy, including by digital means, by promoting efficient civil and criminal procedures and by promoting and supporting the rights of all victims of crime and the procedural rights of suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings, as well as of requested persons in European Arrest Warrant proceedings.

The programme will provide for synergies between its different specific objectives to effectively support the policy areas these objectives cover and increase their potential to reach its target groups. To be effective, the programme should take into account the specific nature of the different policies, their different target groups and their particular needs through tailor-made approaches.

In implementing the proposed regulation, the Commission will set the funding priorities in the respective policy areas each year. The regulation’s structure allows for flexibility and for quick adjustments to be made based on policy needs and new policy and technological developments.

Budgetary implications

A financial envelope of EUR 798 million (current prices) is included under this new multiannual financial framework covering the period 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 for the Justice Programme.