EU must ensure liberty that is not sacrificed in security quest

11.09.41am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 2nd Nov 2004

Five years after the first EU programme for 'Freedom, Security and Justice' was agreed, EU prime ministers on November 4th and 5th are launching its successor the 'Hague programme'.

This aims to build more effective common capability for the EU in asylum, immigration & border control, equalities and non-discrimination, free movement and justice rights, and cross-border law enforcement against terrorism and major crime.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, London MEP and European justice spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats commented:

"The Hague Programme emphasises a common humane European asylum system, plus legal avenues for migration and effective integration as well as hitting the traffickers. National governments must implement this common sense agenda instead of loony quick fixes like transit camps in Libya."

"They must also make the switch to a more efficient and democratic decision-making system foreseen for 2004 under existing EU treaties. Qualified majority voting in the Council and co-decision with MEPs would end deadlock and improve quality."

"The focus on security must not be at the expense of civil liberties. With many data-sharing proposals coming forward which threaten privacy, MEPs will be vigilant in protection of individual rights and freedoms."