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Justice - Home affairs

3. Judicial cooperation

Although most Schengen countries require citizens to carry identity cards, the removal of frontier controls on most internal EU borders has made it much easier for criminals to travel undetected into different legal jurisdictions - and to evade prosecution. This has led to significant efforts to develop cooperation between prosecutors and investigators, notably in the field of extradition. The principle is that legal decisions, both civil and criminal, taken in one member state are recognised and implemented in another.

In criminal cases individuals should have their rights guaranteed equally, no matter under which member state’s jurisdiction their case is being heard in, whether they are suspects, accused or victims. Also in civil and commercial matters, individuals and companies have rights that need to be respected. The priorities here are better access to justice, mutual recognition of judicial decisions and increased convergence in the field of procedural law.

Currently, the Commission is addressing questions involving private international law and procedural law matters, including matrimonial and family law, e.g. child custody cases.