STORY
The Council of the European Union has agreed a partial negotiating position on the new Justice programme for the 2028 to 2034 EU budget period. The programme is intended to support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, judicial training and the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
The Council said the programme would have a strong focus on digitalisation in cross-border justice, including digital
communication between courts and support for European digital identity wallets. It will also support cooperation on serious crime, including corruption, terrorism and environmental crime, as well as training for legal and judicial professionals.
The mandate is partial because financial and horizontal issues remain tied to the wider negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The Council’s position now provides the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament, while the final budget will depend on the eventual EU spending settlement for 2028 to 2034.