US – EU Ministerial Troika in Prague
The Troika meeting of the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the European Union and of the United States of America took place in Prague on 28 April.
The European Union was represented by Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer, Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot and the Directors of Europol, Frontex and a representative of Eurojust. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Sweden, which will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU after the Czech Republic - Swedish Justice Minister Beatrice Ask and Minister for Migration and Asylum Policies Tobias Billström, who took part in the meeting as observers. The US delegation was headed by Attorney General Eric Holder and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute.
This was the first meeting of this type since the arrival of the new US Administration. “Today’s meeting followed after our first working meeting in the USA. We organised the first meeting of the Ministerial Troika after the new U.S. Administration came to power. Together we are building new relations with “old” friends. I am glad that we are able to cooperate efficiently in a number of areas”, says Czech Minister of the Interior Ivan Langer.
The topics addressed at the meeting included:
- New trans-Atlantic relations in the areas of justice, freedom and security
- Fight against terrorism
- US visa-waiver scheme and border protection
- Protection of children
- Exchange of data
New Trans-Atlantic Relations
The EU confirmed the importance of the USA as its key partner in the areas of Justice and Home affairs; outlined current areas of cooperation and provided an outlook on future activities. It was proposed to set up a group which would draft a document summarising the fundamental principles of the new trans-Atlantic relations. This document could be submitted to the Ministers already in the autumn of this year under the Swedish Presidency, at the next meeting in Washington. The USA confirmed its determination to strengthen its cooperation with the European Union, which remains an important partner.
Combating Terrorism
- Guantánamo
The US and EU participants briefly exchanged information on the current situation. The Presidency informed the attendees of the expert discussions taking place at EU level with regard to the possibilities of exchange of information between the Member States, the aim being to conclude these debates by June. Minister Langer stated that “it is our goal, as the country holding the Presidency, to adopt a coordinated umbrella approach (based on exchange of information between the Member States) that will provide support for countries willing to receive the Guantánamo detainees and that will at the same time operate as a sufficient security guarantee for countries worried about the potential security risks related to the non-existence of internal borders within the Schengen Area. We expect the USA to provide maximum information on the detainees to be received. The USA has already provided answers to our questions tabled during our last journey to Washington – and we have forwarded these to the Member States“. The United States acknowledges its responsibility for this issue. It believes that any solution thereof may be best found in cooperation with its partners and is ready to share the maximum information possible.
- Combating internet misuse for proliferation of terrorism
The EU and US participants discussed the issue of cooperation in the fight against radicalisation and recruitment. Many new topics were opened such as combating the misuse of the Internet, the fight against radicalisation in prisons, de-radicalisation etc. “Combating the misuse of the Internet for the promotion of terrorism is one of our priorities. We focus on the prevention of this phenomenon. We strengthen cooperation, share experience, focus on the know-how”, added the Czech Interior Minister. During the Presidency, the Czech Ministry of the Interior will organise an expert seminar, to take place on the 12 May in Brussels, which will be attended by the representatives of the Member States and the USA. The seminar will focus on combating illegal content of websites with emphasis on terrorist and extremist propaganda. Both sides agreed that radicalisation and recruitment represent a serious problem requiring cooperation in order to combat it efficiently. It is necessary to share information and experience and to transform these into everyday practice.
Issues related to the US visa-waiver scheme and border protection
- US visa-waiver scheme
The EU called for the five remaining Member States to be included in the visa-waiver scheme in foreseeable future. It stressed the principle of reciprocity in its relations with the USA. The USA expressed its willingness to continue in this debate and referred to the dialogue of the new US Administration with the Congress. On the other hand, the USA emphasised that to be included in the visa-waiver scheme each country must conform to the requirements set forth by the American legislation.
- Agreement on cooperation between the USA and Frontex
Jane Holl Lute, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Illka Laitinen, Executive Director of Frontex, signed today an Agreement on Cooperation. Interior Minister Ivan Langer said that he is looking forward to practical results, which will be of benefit to the EU Member States.
Protection of Children
”Protection of children is another of our key priorities. We pay maximum attention to this topic. We have started discussing it with the USA, too. We focus on combating illegal content on the Internet and child abuse through the Internet. Last week at the ministerial conference entitled “Safer Internet for Children” we adopted a Prague Declaration which is based, among other aspects, on the involvement of the private sector”, explained Minister Langer. The USA and the EU agreed on the importance of their cooperation in this area and their commitment to develop this cooperation further.
Exchange and protection of data
The Ministers appreciated that agreement was reached on most of the contentious issues. The judicial protection with regard to the processing of personal data remains the only issue unresolved. Negotiations will continue with the aim to prepare the groundwork for the conclusion of a binding agreement on the protection of personal data.
At the end of the meeting Sweden presented its priorities for its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs.
Contact:
- Markéta Matlochová, spokesperson of the Ministry of the Interior for the Presidency
- tel.: +420 974 832 971, mobile: +420 603 191 750, e-mail: matlochova@mvcr.cz
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:25
