📋 Tender Overview
The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council will meet in Luxembourg on 13 and 14 June. Finland will be represented at the meeting of ministers of justice by Permanent Representative, Ambassador Markku Keinänen. Permanent Secretary Pekka Timonen from the Ministry of Justice will attend the meeting.
At their meeting on Friday, EU justice ministers are expected to adopt the Council's general approach on the anti-corruption directive. The aim of the draft directive is to ensure that all forms of intentional corruption are criminalised in all Member States, that legal persons can also be held accountable for these offences and that they are subject to effective sanctions.
Finland welcomes the fact that efforts are being made to be effective in combating corruption offences throughout the EU. Given the potentially cross-border nature of these offences, it is important to strive for up-to-date and sufficiently comprehensive criminal legislation in the Member States. It has been particularly important for Finland that the proposal for a directive does not contain provisions that conflict with the Finnish Constitution and that the offences to be punished can be defined with the precision required by the principle of legality in criminal law. The Council's general approach is in line with Finland's objectives.
Combating the sexual exploitation of children and strengthening parenthood will also be on the agenda
Ministers will discuss the directive on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. The draft directive aims to improve the fight against sexual violence against children by ensuring that technological developments are taken into account both in criminal law as a means of committing sexual violence against children and as a means of investigating and investigating these crimes. The aim is also to improve crime prevention, strengthen support for victims and promote cooperation in the fight against crime both nationally and between Member States.
Finland considers it necessary to take effective measures at EU level to combat sexual violence and sexual exploitation against children so that criminal liability cannot be avoided by moving to another Member State. In the case of offences against children, it is particularly important that the limitation periods for prosecution are sufficient even after the victim has reached the age of majority. The definition of limitation periods should seek appropriate solutions and take into account the rationale of Member States' systems.
The Council intends to hold a policy debate on the relationship between the proposal for a parenthood regulation and surrogacy arrangements and the confirmation and recognition of parenthood of resulting children. The aim of the proposal is to facilitate the recognition of the parenthood of all children in another EU Member State, regardless of how they were born, born or their family type. Finland welcomes the fact that uniform rules of private international law are being created in the EU in matters concerning parenthood. However, regulation must leave sufficient national room for manoeuvre.
Other topics for the meeting
The meeting will hear a progress report on the negotiations on the Insolvency Directive. The proposal for a directive is part of the measures to develop the Capital Markets Union. Finland will promote common European solutions for the development of capital markets as part of strengthening strategic competitiveness.
Justice ministers will also discuss the fight against impunity in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The ministers will also receive progress reports on the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Istanbul Convention). It will also adopt conclusions on safeguarding free and democratic debate.
