Welcome to my website! Here you will find useful information about European Union policies in the fields of justice, freedom and security, about my team and about me personally. In an EU of 27 Member States, where people and goods are able to move freely, the construction of a genuine area of justice, freedom and security represents a new horizon for the development of Europe.
European citizens expect the EU to ensure their individual and collective protection and to safeguard their freedoms and fundamental rights. The achievement of this aim requires a basis of mutual recognition in the area of civil justice, the respecting of privacy and free movement and the fight against all forms of discrimination. It also requires more efficient judicial and police co-operation.
At the same time, citizens expect Europe to be able to respond to the major challenge of migration flows. We need to develop a coordinated system of management for legal and illegal immigration and for asylum between Member States and with third countries, based on solidarity and respect for human beings.
As you can see, my agenda is a very busy and very exciting one! You can be sure that I will listen and that you can rely on my commitment and determination to work on these important matters.
If you would like more in-depth information about our various policies, please visit the website of the Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security.
Also, please let us know your comments and suggestions; they are vital for us to move forward together!
As I get ready to leave my functions at the European Commission, I would like to share with you a last message and invite you to a new website where I will continue to express my point of view on the European Union.
For more than 5 years, I have served Europe with passion and effectiveness. And my work as a European Commissioner has deepened my knowledge of and love for Europe.
During my travels, I have been able to discover riches in Europe that too often remain unknown. Europe has an exceptionally diverse and rich heritage. Plus there are the Europeans themselves of course, so diverse but at the same time sharing the same values.
For example, I was able to discover the very different personalities of the three Baltic states. I have also endeavoured to understand the misfortunes of Central Europe, which suffered under totalitarian regimes and has gradually shown a light on this gloomy period. The region has also seen its borders determined in a sometimes incomprehensible manner, but today we accept them so Europe's countries can live together in harmony. I was privileged to be responsible for physical mobility, which took me to a number of regions in the early EU member countries, all of which expressed their desire for Europe to be more dynamic and more interdependent, even though their countries' governments might not always share that view.
The 6-month rotating EU presidencies taught me to work with governments that, despite different cultures and traditions, were always actively working to promote the European general interest. I cannot cite them all, but how could I forget the German presidency during the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the Portuguese presidency that facilitated the difficult launch of the Galileo project, and of course the French presidency and its formidable dynamism during the financial crisis. We can be proud of our home countries while being proud of Europe too!
As transport commissioner, I am proud to have given Europeans greater opportunities to travel to meet one other. The choice for trans-European networks and the expansion of high-speed rail lines is transforming the map of Europe. It has been our aim to make air transport safer, maritime transport less polluting for our seas and oceans, and urban transport greener and more user-friendly.
I have worked to make Europe more open to the world thanks to an open skies agreement between Europe and the US. From now on, our airlines can increase service between European and American cities, for the benefit of travellers and employment.
Then, while responsible for justice, freedom and security dossiers, I had the pleasure of seeing the Lisbon Treaty ratified, which will let us make a break with the intergovernmental approach in favour of the Community method in this vital area.
Because I am convinced that the area of justice, freedom and security is one of the most promising horizons for European integration. We sketched out this horizon with the Stockholm programme that EU member countries approved at the end of 2009.
Whether we're looking at fundamental rights - the charter of which is now incorporated into European law - or the budding construction of a legal Europe, a European legal community is taking shape.
The same is true for European migratory strategy, which has to incorporate a common asylum policy and a global approach to the migration issue. We can meet this major challenge of the 21st century by starting a dialogue with the countries of origin, linking increased development aid to a concerted organisation of migration.
Europe must finally find a model that strikes a balance between greater collective security - in a world where the threats are many and use new technologies - and respect for privacy and individual liberties. It is one of the crucial issues society will have to grapple with in the decades to come.
In all these areas - where all deliberations and actions must have human beings as their priority - I am proud to have made a contribution to a more integrated Europe.
It is also my hope that economic and social integration will make significant progress.
In this regard, the next decade will be decisive. We need to further develop the internal market, in particular for energy and services. But we must go further still! Let's create a genuine European labour market, by expanding mutual recognition of diplomas and vocational training, and by giving the EU a monitoring centre for skills.
Let's bring about this Europe of knowledge, by networking our universities and research centres. The new European Union 2020 strategy must prevent member countries from freezing - or even cutting - investment in research and development.
And, in parallel to this dynamic push for integration, the EU - thanks to its new joint Council / Commission diplomatic service - must carry more weight in a globalised world where Asia is surging ahead.
Just when competition between global powers is heating up, Europe has to stand up and make its presence known on the world stage if it wants to stay in the race. Only a united European voice will enable us to win the great battles of multilateralism and reciprocity over financial, monetary, trade, environmental and social issues. Only a united voice can make Europe an indispensible force for world peace.
Whatever my future responsibilities, I will never stop fighting for a Europe that is an inspiration for a model of world governance where the goal of prosperity never pushes aside solidarity, fraternity and harmony.
That has been the commitment underlying my whole political life, and it will continue to guide my thoughts and action.Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
