Europeans enjoy many civil, political and social rights, enshrined in the charter of fundamental rights. Upholding them is the task of the EU's new fundamental rights agency, opening in Vienna on 1 March.
EU nationals in trouble abroad can get help from the diplomatic offices of any other EU country, if theirs has no local representation - a fact known by less than a third of EU citizens. They can expect to be treated as a national of that country.
The European Union and the United States reached an agreement on 6 October
2006 on the processing and transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data by
airlines to the US government. Airlines flying from the EU to the US can
transfer passenger information including names, addresses, phone numbers,
itineraries and credit card numbers to US government agencies defined in the
agreement. This agreement replaces the one of May 2004 reached between the
European Community and the United States, after the European Court of Justice
considered a Council Decision to conclude the Agreement illegal because of
inappropriate legal basis. However, it did not rule on the content, in
particular whether data protection standards had been sufficiently respected by
the European Community.
EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers have outlined proposals for a more
effective management of migration flows as well as for better prevention of
illegal immigration. At the informal ministerial meeting in Tampere on 21 and
22 September, they stressed the need for a common European asylum system for
more efficient border controls and for increased solidarity among Member
States.
Five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States,
the EU is remembering the victims and expressing its solidarity with those left
behind. In a statement, Commission President José Manuel Barroso recalled the
EU’s response of increased cooperation with the US since 2001 in fighting
terrorism. He spoke of the EU’s determination to tackle the causes and
consequences of global terrorism and acknowledged that more remains to be done,
such as fighting radicalisation and recruitment. He asserted that the EU must
stand up for its values namely respect for human rights, the surest guarantee
of its future security.
The Commission has tabled a package of measures aimed at fighting illegal
immigration more efficiently while strengthening the solidarity between Member
States. On 19 July, it adopted a Communication on the policy priorities in the
fight against illegal immigration, a proposal for a Regulation establishing a
Community Code on visas for short-stays and a proposal for a Regulation on
rapid reaction teams of border guards.
The Commission has launched a new strategy for the promotion and the protection of children's rights. On 4 July, it unveiled a Communication (FR) in which it set out objectives for the future and a number of short-term measures to address urgent issues.
Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Vice-President Margot Wallström
presented their contribution to the EU's 'period of reflection' on 10 May 2006.
In a communication which will be sent to the European Council of 15-16 June,
they take stock of Plan D and propose a policy-based 'citizens' agenda'
delivering the results which citizens are expecting.
