EU Affairs

Of the various international areas, the major commitment for the Department in terms of time and resources is EU affairs. The bulk of the Department’s involvement in this area takes place within the Council of Ministers, especially the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council, and within circa 20 Council working groups.

 

JHA Council

The JHA Council is the Council most closely associated with the Department and its agencies. The work of the JHA Council covers:

  • police co-operation
  • judicial co-operation in criminal and civil matters
  • immigration and asylum policy
  • Schengen-related matters
  • customs co-operation

 

Working Groups

The JHA Council is the pinnacle of a pyramid made up of working groups and EU bodies/agencies, dedicated to progressing the agenda in the areas falling within the remit of the Council. The working groups associated with the JHA Council include:

  • the senior level Article 36 Committee (CATS)
  • the Strategic Committee on Immigration Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA)
  • the Standing Committee on Internal Security (COSI)
  • the Police Chiefs Task Force
  • the Multi-Disciplinary Group on Crime

 

The EU bodies/agencies include

  • Europol
  • Eurojust
  • CEPOL, the European Police College

 

Working groups reporting to the JHA Council also involve personnel from the Revenue Commissioners (customs co-operation issues) and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to civil protection 

 

Schengen

France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands decided in 1985 to create a territory without internal borders or passport checks. This became known as the ‘Schengen area’. The name was taken from the name of the town in Luxembourg where the first agreements were signed. This intergovernmental co-operation has been extended, and it now applies to all EU member states with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom. In addition, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland participate in the Schengen arrangements.

In accordance with a Protocol 19 to the Treaty of Lisbon, Ireland and the United Kingdom can take part in all or some of the Schengen arrangements if the Schengen group member states and the government representative of the country in question vote unanimously in favour within the Council.

In June 2000 Ireland applied to take part in some aspects of Schengen, namely police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters, the fight against drugs and the Schengen Information System (SIS). The Council adopted a decision approving Ireland's request on 28 February, 2002. It is necessary for Ireland to put new legislative and other measures in place to give effect to the relevant elements of the Schengen acquis. This is a project which is being actively pursued.