Conference on the rights of citizens in the EU

Lawyers, researchers and politicians from all over the EU are meeting in Stockholm over two days to discuss the rights of the individual in connection with crime.

“Every citizen of every EU country has rights. The most fundamental rights must be the same in all Member States”, said Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask in her opening address.

She pointed out that the EU had made impressive progress in the legal area, but that there was a need to continue to advance these issues.

“Our legal system is lagging behind in the globalised world in which we live . People move between countries and work across borders. The systems must reflect this and people must be guaranteed minimum rights, irrespective of which country they are in. A great deal remains for the EU to do here.”

Information in a language that they can understand.

In her opening address, Beatrice Ask also said that those who find themselves the victim of crime or those suspected of a crime in an EU country other than their country of residence must be allowed access to information in a language that they can understand.

At the conference, participants will have the chance to listen to speakers such as Pauliine Koskelo, President of the Finnish Supreme Court and Dean Spielmann, judge of the European Court of Human Rights. There will also be group projects on issues relating to citizens’ rights.

Lutz Diwell, State Secretary at the German Ministry of Justice, spoke after Beatrice Ask and expressed his pleasure that the Swedish Presidency has elected to raise the issue of citizens' rights, as this had also been an important issue during the German Presidency of the EU in 2007.

“In carrying these issues forward, Sweden ensures that they continue to be on the EU agenda, and I am very grateful for this”, said Lutz Diwell.