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TEXT 4. JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY
The area of freedom, security and justice was created to ensure the free movement of persons and to offer a high level of protection to citizens. It covers policy areas that range from the management of the European Union’s external borders to judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters. It includes asylum and immigration policies, police cooperation, and the fight against crime (terrorism, organised crime, trafficking in human beings, drugs, etc.).
The creation of the area of freedom, security and justice is based on the Tampere (1999-04), Hague (2004-09) and Stockholm (2010-14) programmes. It derives from Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which regulates the “Area of freedom, security and justice”.
Citizenship of the Union
Any person who is a national of a Member State of the European Union (EU) is a European citizen. EU citizenship thus complements national citizenship without replacing it. An integral part of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, EU citizenship confers nationals of Member States a series of rights. These include the rights to appeal to the Ombudsman, initiate legislative proposals (citizens’ initiative), and to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal and European elections. Citizens of the Union also enjoy freedom of movement and residence within the territory of the EU, as well as diplomatic and consular protection outside the Union from any Member State.
Combating discrimination
The European Union (EU) combats discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation. In addition, all discrimination on the grounds of nationality is prohibited by the Treaties. The right to non-discrimination is further reinforced by the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which has the same legal value as the Treaties.
The EU legal framework on anti-discrimination was initiated in 2000. It contains three directives, namely equal treatment irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, in employment and between men and women outside the labour market. Member States and the Union institutions and authorities are assisted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) when implementing EU law on anti-discrimination. Financial assistance is provided by the PROGRESS 2007-13 programme.
Combating drugs
Well-being, social cohesion and security are all objectives which guide the action taken by the European Union in combating drugs. In this context, the EU’s action focuses mainly on reducing supply and demand, which links up with both the fight against organised crime and a high level of health protection. The main components are:
· greater coordination between the competent services in the EU;
· harmonization in the field of infringements and penalties;
· and effective international cooperation.
To this end, bodies such as the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and instruments such as the financial strategies and programmes complete the policy framework to combat drugs effectively and to achieve all these defined objectives.