In the field of judicial cooperation, work continues based on
the priorities decided upon by the Hague Program, approved by
the December 2004 European Council and by the Action Plan adopted
in June 2005. An essential element, both in civil and in criminal
matters, is a vaster execution of the principle of reciprocal
recognition of decisions.
In civil matters, special emphasis continues to be reserved to
concrete access to justice by European citizens. In this framework,
efforts continue towards the simplification of procedures, through
the finalization of the regulation on final demands and notices
and on the directive on alternative dispute resolution (mediation).
A central objective is represented by the determination in the
Community of rules pertaining to private international law, through
the conclusion of negotiations on the regulation relative to non-contractual
obligations (Rome II), and the beginning of the work for the transformation
into regulation of the Convention of Rome of 1980 on contractual
obligations (Rome I). Cooperation in family law aims to complete
the regulation on parental accountability (Brussels II), with
the determination of rules on conflicts of uniform laws in the
matters of divorce and separation, and the beginning of work on
the regulation of maintenance obligations.
The Austrian and Finnish Presidencies will also progress with
the Hague Program in the field of criminal judicial cooperation,
in the struggle against transnational organized crime (drug trafficking,
trafficking in human beings, etc.) and international terrorism,
in the full respect of the regulations of rule of law, of human
rights, and of fundamental freedoms.
Special emphasis will be given to the strengthening of the justice
area through the consolidation of a European judicial culture,
to be pursued with the institution of a network of judges and
judicial authorities.
Among the priorities of the Austrian Presidency there is the application
of the principle of mutual recognition of the enforcement of judgements,
an instrument which should involve the obligation for Member States
to carry out, on their own territories, sentences inflicted on
citizens or persons who have their usual residence in the State
of enforcement.
