Welcoming words of President of the Republic Tarja Halonen for the participants of the Conference of Presidents of the Supreme Courts and Attorneys General or Prosecutors General of the Member States of the European Union on 27 May 2004

I would like to welcome you to Helsinki, where you are holding your important conference for the first time, and also to the Presidential Palace. I especially welcome participants from the EU's new member states.

In my opinion it is very important for representatives of the member states’ Supreme Courts and the Court of Justice of the European Communities, the European Court of Human Rights and prosecuting authorities to meet and discuss legal issues. Regular meetings are especially important now, when the Intergovernmental Conference is striving to finish work on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The new constitution would also signify changes in fundamental rights provisions and legal cooperation in the field of criminal law, which are on your agenda.

Fundamental rights have gained a firmer footing in the European Union. Development is inevitable. In today's world we cannot conceive of legislative and executive power reaching into different spheres of social life without fundamental rights and their monitoring.

The European Charter of Fundamental Rights, which was proclaimed by the European Council, Commission and Parliament in the Nice summit in 2000, was an important milestone in European fundamental rights and human rights development, although the Charter itself is not legally binding. The new constitutional treaty would open the path for the European Union to commit to rules and being accountable for the obligations of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The fate of the constitutional treaty is still open, but if and when such a treaty is signed, it will include the Charter that was adopted in Nice as it is or with minor changes, but now as part of the binding legal basis for all of the Union's activities.

Criminal law has traditionally been a core area of national legislation. Crime does not respect national borders. The significance of international cooperation has long been self-evident. I suppose we all can emphasize the significance of international organisations as the United Nations and the Council of Europe and also the European Union in promoting the common good and prevention of serious international crime.

National criminal law systems differ - otherwise there would be no need for harmonization. National systems are based on lengthy traditions and criminal-policy views. As a result, harmonizing legislation is not easy and cannot succeed unless nationally important principles are adequately respected.

In fighting international crime, investigating crimes, providing legal assistance and implementing punishment, progress is easier to make. This involves close cooperation and the mutual recognition of judgments. The principle of the mutual recognition of judgments is the cornerstone of judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU. This principle is acceptable to citizens only if they can be assured that the legal systems in all the member states are fair and respect fundamental rights. You members of the courts and prosecutors are guardians in this respect.

I also want to encourage you to a co-operation in a wider area than our own continent to strengthen the rule of law and international law. The consciousness of the vulnerability of our planet’s environment and the invasion of globalisation into our everyday lives has increased our concerns but also convinced us of the importance of co-operation.

I wish you a rewarding conference and interesting discussions.