Legal & home affairs

Enjoying fundamental rights and respecting the rule of law

We want an EU where citizens enjoy their fundamental rights and where the rule of law is fully respected. Our Working Group on Legal and Home Affairs is focusing on making this happen. It also deals with other major issues such as migration, civil liberties, gender equality and educational, constitutional and legal matters.

Our Group has made extraordinary progress in a number of areas, from securing our borders so Europeans continue to enjoy the four freedoms, to fighting terrorism and fraud, and increasing protection for victims. We pushed for the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex), championed electronic checks of all citizens crossing Europe’s external borders, fought for airlines to disclose records of passengers flying into Europe, updated the continent-wide legal framework on terrorism and put an end to elaborate terrorist financing.

Today we are working towards a common European approach on immigration and asylum policy. And with economic growth requiring a legal framework that ensures effective protection of intellectual property rights online as well as offline, the protection of intellectual property rights in the digital era is also high on our agenda.

Chair

Committees in this Working Group

Close up of a gavel resting on its stand

Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Protecting rights in and beyond Europe Migration and asylum rules also fall under the remit of this committee. The...

The last piece of a puzzle of the European flag lies on top of the completed pieces

Constitutional Affairs

Putting citizens’ concerns first The committee also works on improving how European political parties and foundations are regulated. It m...

A young boy standing with his classmates raises his hand

Culture and Education

Improving European knowledge and culture Its remit is quite wide as it tackles issues related to audiovisual policy, the cultural and...

Justice carrying her scales, blindfolded

Legal Affairs

Safeguarding European law and protecting the rights of Europeans Its other responsibilities include the Statute for Members and Staff Regulations,...

A woman signs a document on a clipboard

Petitions

Improving future legislation On a practical level, it is responsible for processing petitions and also for relations with the European Ombudsman. It also has an...

Spyware [nid:115880]

Use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware

Investigating Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware to protect democracy The Pegasus spyware...

A woman smiles at the camera

Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

Eliminating gender-based discrimination The committee is responsible for defining, promoting and protecting women's rights...

Related Position

Legal & home affairs

Related Position Papers

Women’s Day
publications 08.03.2023

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY DECLARATION

Equality between women and men and gender equality are at the very heart of our European values: the essence of who we...

publications 01.02.2023

EPP Group Position Paper on ASYLUM AND MIGRATION

Foreword to the second edition In April 2020, the EPP Group adopted a comprehensive Position Paper on...

Combat Organised Crime
publications 13.09.2022

EPP Group Position Paper on How to Combat Organised Crime in the European Union

INTRODUCTION Organised crime is a major threat to the...

publications 07.06.2021

EPP Group Position Paper on Culture

1. General remarks:  Culture as our common roots For the EPP Group, culture is at the heart of the European way of...

Contact