Luxembourg, 11 October 2024
Fight against racism
Justice ministers held a discussion about the implementation of the EU’s antiracism action plan. The plan, the EU’s first, was adopted in 2020 and contains more than 80 measures, in various areas, including law enforcement, education, employment, housing, and health, designed to step up action to address racism more effectively in the EU.
Ministers in particular addressed the challenges posed by the implementation of the plan such as a lack of reliable data related to the under-reporting of racism and what further actions should be taken at national level. They also addressed how EU bodies could assist member states in implementing the action plan at national level. Ministers raised amongst other issues the importance of EU level funding, exchanging best practices and enhancing capabilities of local actors and civil society.
Sirpa Rautio, director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, briefed ministers on the latest figures and trends in this area in the EU. The director recalled that the experience of racism and hate undermines trust in society which in turn discourages victims from reporting crimes and that high levels of online hate speech slip through platform moderation mechanisms.
Racism has a profound negative impact on our citizens’ everyday life and threatens the cohesion of our societies. Fighting racism remains a priority for the EU and member state governments because it is essential to ensure the prosperity and safety of European citizens.
Bence Tuczon, Hungarian minister of justice
- Fundamental rights (background information)
- European Council conclusions, 14 and 15 December 2023
- Report on the implementation of the EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025 and on national action plans against racism and discrimination (European Commission)
Fight against drug trafficking and organised crime
The presidency, the Commission and the Eurojust informed ministers about ongoing work in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. Recent developments include the launch – on 25-26 September this year – of a European Judicial Organised Crime Network. This network is the result of the Council conclusions in June 2024. It provides a hub of specialised expertise supporting judicial authorities in the area of organised crime. In order to strengthen judicial cooperation with non-EU countries, Eurojust and the Commission have engaged in an exercise to map priority countries and actions. Council working groups will discuss next steps on the basis of this exercise. The European External Action Service highlighted its role of making sure that judicial cooperation issues are taken into account in broader discussions with third countries at EU level.
At EU level, the Drugs Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2025 and the Strategy to tackle Organised Crime 2021-2025 map out the challenges and actions in this area.
- EU drugs policy (background information)
- The EU’s fight against organised crime (background information)
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: fight against impunity
The presidency, the Commission and the Eurojust gave an update on the most recent developments as regards the fight against impunity of war crimes committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council has supported coordination and cooperation between member states and international players to ensure that those who have committed international crimes will not remain unpunished.
Many important initiatives have been launched such as the dispatching by member states of forensic experts to Ukraine, the establishment of a joint investigation team into alleged crimes committed in Ukraine, the development by Eurojust of a Core International Crimes Evidence Database, the establishment at Eurojust of an International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the launch of national investigations into international crimes allegedly committed in Ukraine.
On 9 December 2022, the Council approved conclusions on the fight against impunity in which member states called upon Ukraine to accede to the Rome Statute. This accession is now under way since Ukraine, on 24 August 2024, adopted a legislative package on its accession to the Statute. The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court.
Fostering access to justice in the context of rule of law and competitiveness
During lunch ministers held an exchange of views on access to justice in the context of rule of law and competitiveness, discussing in particular the possibilities for economic actors with fewer resources and financial means, such as SMEs, to access justice. The discussion focused on how to improve the transparency, accessibility and availability of legislation and legal information in order to facilitate equal and effective access to justice for all. The prospects and potential benefits of alternative dispute resolution were also explored, as well as the challenges and best practices in this area.
Ongoing legislative files
The presidency reported on the status of ongoing legislative files in the area of justice.
Other business
Together with the Commission, the presidency provided an update on developments in the area of combatting antisemitism. The presidency also reported on the EU-Western Balkans Justice and Home Affairs ministerial forum which will take place in Montenegro on 28 and 29 October 2024 and about the state of play regarding the EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Commission informed delegations on the 2024 annual report on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the negotiations on an EU-US e-evidence agreement and achievements reached regarding the UN Cybercrime Convention.
Slovakia raised remarks concerning the 2024 rule of law report.
Preparatory documents
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- List of A items, legislative deliberations
- Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional agenda
- Background brief
- Provisional list of A items, addition 1
Outcome documents