Preface - European AFSJ. Common Values as the Gateway for Future Development

• Author: Malin Brännkärr
• Profession: State Secretary, Ministry of Justice of Finland
• Pages: ix-xv

IX

PREFACE

EUROPEAN AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY

AND JUSTICE – COMMON VALUES AS THE

GATEWAY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Malin Brännkärr

Twenty years ago, Finland, a relatively new member state of the

European Union, held the Presidency of the Council of the Euro-

pean Union for the rst time. At the time, European integration

had reached a new stage and the Tampere European Council held

an important meeting in which a groundbreaking decision was

made. is decision profoundly changed the European Union and

subsequently created a Union of Freedom, Security and Justice.

In 2019, the Finnish Presidency coincides with the 20th anni-

versary of the adoption of the Tampere Milestones in the European

Council Conclusions of October 1999. Since the very beginning,

it was clear that the European area of freedom, security and jus-

tice could only be built based on a shared commitment to human

rights, democracy and the rule of law. Furthermore, the same basis

serves as the foundation for any future development of EU Justice

and Home Aairs.

Aer Tampere, Justice and Home Aairs soon became the

fastest developing policy eld in the union, and fundamental

rights, stable institutions and well-functioning justice systems

became more and more important during any ongoing accession

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