Task division between Malmström – Reding

26 March 2010 door mascia

The European Commission changed the composition of several commissioner posts for Barroso II. The Directorate-General for Justice and Home affairs has been split into Justice, Fundamental Rights & Citizenship and Home Affairs. Swedish Commissioner Cecilia Malmström was appointed commissioner for Home Affairs. Viviane Reding (Luxembourg) was named commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights & Citizenship.

Malmström is responsible for the following areas:

  • Borders, visas, immigration & asylum;
  • Fight against economic, financial and cyber crime;
  • Fight against organised crime, corruption, human trafficking and drugs;
  • Fight against terrorism;
  • Police and judicial cooperation (a.o. FRONTEX, EUROPOL).

Viviane Reding will handle issues related to general justice, civil justice, criminal justice, commercial justice and consumer rights. Agencies like EUROJUST and EMCDDA are part of her portfolio.

When the DG split was announced, liberal European Parliament members protested. Barroso agreed to split responsibility for home affairs and civil liberties, partly because it was a key demand of Liberal MEPs and partly to restore the balance between ensuring citizens’ security and protecting basic freedoms. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament now has co-decision power on almost all justice and home affairs issues, and precisely on police cooperation and protection of Europeans’ personal data.

Source: European Commission and OCMC European Affairs

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