Current problems of Europe

The Reform of the EU’s Justices and Homes affairs and the Treaty of Lisbon: Towards the deeper political integration

Потемкина О.Ю.

Potemkina O.Y. – Head of the European Integration Department, Institute of Europe, RAS, Ph.D. (history).

Abstract

The article focuses upon the reform of the Justice, Freedom and Security space in the Lisbon Treaty. The history of the reform is traced, which started in the Amsterdam Treaty and was continued in the Constitution. The significance of the reform completing for the Member states’ cooperation in criminal justice, in particular, and for the further political integration in the EU as a whole. At the same time the obstacles preventing the development of the space are outlined, including the «emergency brake» procedure as well as the several states’ opts-out of the new legal order. The final conclusion emphasizes the increasing significance of the supra-national component in the EU justice and home affairs, regardless existing contradictions and obstacles.

Keywords

European Union, political reform, Lisbon Treaty, justice and home affairs, space of justice, freedom and security, police and criminal justice cooperation.

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