Speeches by
| Author | Frans Timmermans |
| Published date | 01 December 2015 |
| Date | 01 December 2015 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/203228441500600403 |
| Subject Matter | Session 1: Introductory Session |
406 Intersentia
SPEECH
F T*
Professore Rettore,
Your Honour,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am glad to be here today at the inv itation of the Italian Presidency of the Council to
discuss the impor tant changes that the end of the Lisbon Treaty transit ion will bring.
is is an important moment for the normalisat ion of the former ird Pillar into
Union law, giving new rights to citizens and ensuring that our common European
interest in sa fe, secure com munities is re ecte d in the way we, and our law enforcement
bodies and court s, work together to combat terrorism, organised crime and other
threats to our societ ies.
e new powers given to the European C ourt are the embodiment of our Eu ropean
commitment to balanci ng the various fu ndamental rights at play here – such as
personal security, privacy, and the guarantee to live in a peacef ul and respectf ul
society in which t he rule of law is a given.
e work of the European Court a nd the jurisdictions and prac titioners it from now
will oversee is somet hing about which I have always cared very deeply – in fac t, I even
happen to be married to a judge! It was impor tant to me to be able to address you at this
signi cant moment. You are the backbone of police and cr iminal just ice cooperation
– you are the people maki ng it happen every day on the ground. And on 1st December
a number of things wi ll change. As practitioners, you obv iously have heaps of questions
on how that will a ect your dai ly work, what will happen to the instr uments you use.
It’s the beginning of a new chapter – or rat her the end of an old one. e so-called
“third pillar” is nally coming to a close . And with the end of that chapter, the
remaining part of t he justice and home a airs cooperation is na lly( nally!)back
into the fold, fully pa rt of the mainstream, and – just a s importantly – joined up with
the rest of justice and home a airs policies.
From December 1st, no more special status: all EU policies for police a nd criminal
justice are “normal” EU pol icies.
* First Vice-Preside nt of the European Comm ission.
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