Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens – action plan implementing the Stockholm programme
CIVEX-V/010
Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens – action plan implementing the Stockholm programme
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- wishes, as part of its shared responsibility for the implementation of European citizenship, the subsidiarity principle, multilevel governance and the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, to contribute to a healthy "culture of fundamental rights";
- notes that, as the level of government closest to the people, local and regional authorities have a particular commitment to the principles of political participation as laid down in the Lisbon Treaty and in national and regional constitutions; therefore recommends looking into giving EU citizens more extensive opportunities to take part in elections in their country of residence;
- points out that it is necessary to build a real foundation of trust and thorough understanding of the legal systems of other Member States in order to implement the Stockholm programme, and that local and regional authorities could contribute to this, not least as part of their urban and regional partnerships;
- notes that local and regional authorities have a key role in implementing a comprehensive data protection system focused on fundamental rights, and also a particular shared responsibility with regard to crime prevention and administrative approaches to preventing and fighting corruption and organised crime;
- once again stresses the need – with reference to the social dimension of ever-increasing poverty-related migration – for a European immigration and asylum policy that has been coordinated with local and regional authorities and is based on respect for human rights, solidarity and responsibility; and would therefore also welcome the appointment of a European representative for migration, refugees and integration at the European Parliament to deal in particular with the specific problems encountered by third-country nationals.
- wishes, as part of its shared responsibility for the implementation of European citizenship, the subsidiarity principle, multilevel governance and the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, to contribute to a healthy "culture of fundamental rights";
- notes that, as the level of government closest to the people, local and regional authorities have a particular commitment to the principles of political participation as laid down in the Lisbon Treaty and in national and regional constitutions; therefore recommends looking into giving EU citizens more extensive opportunities to take part in elections in their country of residence;
- points out that it is necessary to build a real foundation of trust and thorough understanding of the legal systems of other Member States in order to implement the Stockholm programme, and that local and regional authorities could contribute to this, not least as part of their urban and regional partnerships;
- notes that local and regional authorities have a key role in implementing a comprehensive data protection system focused on fundamental rights, and also a particular shared responsibility with regard to crime prevention and administrative approaches to preventing and fighting corruption and organised crime;
- once again stresses the need – with reference to the social dimension of ever-increasing poverty-related migration – for a European immigration and asylum policy that has been coordinated with local and regional authorities and is based on respect for human rights, solidarity and responsibility; and would therefore also welcome the appointment of a European representative for migration, refugees and integration at the European Parliament to deal in particular with the specific problems encountered by third-country nationals.
