Area of freedom, security and justice: strategy for the external dimension, action plan implementing the Hague Programme

The Council took note of a Presidency report on the implementation of the “Strategy for the External Dimension of the JHA: Global Freedom, Security and Justice” covering the year 2006.

The strategy calls for the establishment of a partnership with third countries in the field of JHA, which includes strengthening the rule of law and promoting respect for human rights as well as international obligations. This is to be achieved through greater co-operation on:

- migration and asylum;

- border management and the effective control of borders;

- law enforcement co-operation on combating terrorism as well as the fight against organised crime,

- including trafficking in human beings, money laundering and the fight against corruption;

- judicial co-operation in civil and criminal matters; and assisting the judiciary and judicial reform of third countries.

The report focuses on:

- an overall assessment of the effectiveness of political, technical and operational co-operation with third countries on JHA issues in the previous period;

- specific suggestions for geographical and/or thematic priorities for future action; and

- options for measures, whether political or technical to improve co-operation with specific countries and regions.