At a United States-European Union Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs this week, officials reaffirmed the strong bonds between the two governmental bodies and committed to continue working together to combat terrorism and in other areas.
The event was hosted at the U.S. Department of Justice, represented by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. The European Union delegation was represented by Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos and by Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Robert Kalik.
The meeting emphasized the critical importance of the relationship and continued cooperation between the United States and the EU while facing shared security challenges. Both sides confirmed the completion of internal approval procedures for the EU-U.S. Data Protection “Umbrella” Agreement, which strengthens data protection law enforcement capabilities and cooperation across the Atlantic. The U.S. Attorney General will now designate under the Judicial Redress Act to allow the swift entry into force of the agreement.
The two sides reaffirmed the need to enhance cybersecurity and cybercrime prevention efforts in all its dimensions, including the private sector.
The representatives also exchanged ideas to improve information sharing and addressed the issues of terrorist radicalization. This conversation touched on areas of migration, border management and its role in ensuring internal security. Additionally, they addressed question related to chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear materials and how best to prevent their use.