'Could do better' verdict on EU anti-crime efforts

6.14.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jun 2006

Commenting on a package of green papers expected on Wednesday from the European Commission assessing progress on a 2004 EU work programme on tackling crime and immigration challenges and proposing reforms, the Liberal Democrats' European justice spokeswoman and MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"All credit to the Commission for telling it as it is: 'could do better'. While European citizens rightly demand results on catching criminals and deterring terrorists, EU ministers sit in endless and fruitless discussions."

"They are failing on many counts to equip our law enforcement agencies with the tools they need while also upholding civil liberties:

• clinging on to individual vetoes which causes paralysis

• failing to implement measures which are finally agreed

• ignoring vital issues like race hate crime, privacy concerns and defendants' rights in a foreign country

• meeting secretly and shutting out national and Euro-MPs"

Ludford added:

"There must be urgent reform to get EU action protecting citizens, as they rightly demand, from both crime and invasion of their individual rights. EU governments deserve and need a big kick to get going."