Freedom, security and justice for all : justice and home affairs in the European Union

One of the European Union's remarkable achievements over the past half century has been to create a large frontier-free area within which people can move around unhindered by border checks. EU citizens are also free to choose which EU country they wish to live and work in. But if these freedoms are to be fully enjoyed, the EU must manage its external borders effectively. Its national judicial authorities and police forces must also work closely together to ensure that people everywhere in the EU are equally protected from crime, have equal access to justice and can fully exercise their rights. The European Union is developing a more coordinated asylum and immigration policy so that asylum applicants are treated fairly in the same way and the legal immigrants the EU needs are integrated into European societies. Action is also being taken to prevent abuses of the system and to tackle illegal immigration. Finally, in a globalised world, it is only by working together that EU countries can effectively combat international crime and terrorism. Taken together and fully implemented, this package of measures will guarantee that the Union is indeed a single area of freedom, security and justice for all.