Justice Minister Alberto Costa convened with the Commission's vice-president, Franco Frattini, with ministers from several Member States and with the president of the European Parliament's Commission on Legal Affairs, on the first meeting of the «Future Group» in the area of Justice.

On 26 and 27 November, in Guincho, Cascais, the first meeting with members of government of the so-called «Future Group» in the area of Justice was held, under the initiative of the Portuguese presidency of the European Union.

Justice Minister Alberto Costa invited for this two-day work meeting his counterparts from Germany, Slovenia, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Spain and Ireland, as well as the vice-president of the European Commission, Franco Frattini, who is responsible for the area of Justice and Home Affairs, and the president of the European Parliament's Commission on Legal Affairs.

Thus, this meeting gathered the Portuguese presidency of the Council, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the governments of the States who will be responsible for the presidency.

The objective of this meeting, as well as the objective of this informal work group, is to start the preparation of priorities and measures of the European Union, in the area of Justice, for the next years.

In 2009, a five year work programme will be finalised, which was defined in The Hague in 2004, the so-called «The Hague Programme», and which contemplates a plan of community action in the area of Justice, both at a criminal justice and civil justice level.

The debate that was now initiated represents precisely the starting point for the construction of the future, with a new agenda for European Justice that will be already included in the new Treaty of Lisbon which, in the area of Justice, means significant changes. For example, the change in the rule on unanimous decision for the qualified majority or the much closer association of the European Parliament with the legislative procedure in the area of Criminal Justice.

Six themes that represent the great concerns of today's Europe and areas in which progress has to be made were discussed.

Fight against terrorism is an imperative which places permanent challenges to the European justice systems, which face the need to improve their intervention and cooperation capacities. These challenges are linked to the legislation of European States, to the training and work of magistrates and authorities that are responsible for trans-national investigations and judgements and to the capacity to prevent and repress, with the efficiency we all desire, without going beyond the borders of a democratic State. 

Another area of discussion is child protection. It is our duty to protect future generations, those who fortunately only know a Europe that is united and peaceful, especially when considering the globalisation of threats they now have to face.

Electronic justice was also discussed, the only justice for the future, since we are undergoing a transformation process of the working methods and facing the enlargement of cooperation possibilities, which are changing relations between citizens and businesses and the justice systems.

Another dimension that cannot be forgotten is the protection of human rights, the founding boundaries that define us as rule of law States and on which all citizens depend, and which the European integration must strengthen and never take for granted.

Besides these themes, the capacity of the European Union to improve its relations with other political systems, in the area of Justice, was also discussed, as well as issues of institutional functioning, particularly the question of how to improve the preparation of European legislation, and also ensuring more efficiency and more publicity of European law. 

The general guidelines for action were enunciated, but also concrete measures that meet the needs of Europeans. For example, the creation of teams of rapid intervention with national anti-terrorism experts to give immediate investigation support or the creation of a European compensation fund for victims of terrorism and serious crimes; the most adequate means of protection against sexual delinquents and child abduction; or the possibility of starting judicial proceedings in a State of the European Union that is not the State of residency or where headquarters are located, through electronic means.

This group's work will continue throughout 2008 and these themes will be equally discussed with the other Member States of the Union, namely during the next Council for Justice and Internal Affairs, to be held on 6 and 7 December in Brussels.