Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The Ministers of Justice and the Interior of the European Union countries have resumed discussions that began yesterday in Luxembourg and end today, Friday. According to the European Union institutions in Brussels, the discussions focus today on important justice files, including the file and the fight against organized crime, as well as the file of violence against women. With regard to the file of media freedom, the Ministerial Council aims to Access to a general approach to a proposed law against Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP). With this, the European Union is taking measures to promote freedom of information and freedom of expression in the European Union. Its aim is to thwart arbitrary and unfounded judicial proceedings against journalists and human rights defenders and to establish rules for financial compensation.
In the file of combating organized crime, the ministers will discuss the file of human trafficking, as the European Union is updating the anti-trafficking law. Among others, forced marriage and illegal adoption will appear explicitly as the types of exploitation covered by the directive. EU countries must also ensure that people who knowingly use services provided by victims of trafficking can face penalties. The Council plans at the next meeting of justice ministers to agree on a common position to start negotiations with the European Parliament.
The European institutions said in a statement that the recovery and confiscation of assets is at the center of discussions because crime should not work, and the European Union is working to strengthen the rules related to the recovery and confiscation of tools and proceeds of crime. Among other updates, member states will be obligated to enable the forfeiture of gratuitous wealth under certain circumstances. The Council intends to agree on a common position on this bill.
In the issue of violence against women, the council aims to reach an agreement on a draft law to combat violence against women and domestic violence. Among other things, it intends to criminalize a number of behaviors across the European Union such as female genital mutilation, non-consensual sharing of intimate images or cyberbullying. The proposal also deals with reporting of violence against women as well as measures to support and assist victims, including compensation and data collection.
Violation of restrictive measures
In order to strengthen the sanctions toolkit, the Council is working on new legislation to ensure that violations of restrictive measures are criminalised. It will set minimum penalties for circumventing and violating EU sanctions. The Council aims to reach a general approach on this bill.
Other things
The council also plans to approve conclusions regarding the safety of LGBT people in the European Union. The ministers will also exchange views on the judicial response to crimes committed in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.