Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) was introduced as one of the European Union’s (EU) main pillars by the Treaty of Maastricht signed in February 1992 and that entered into force in 1993. Initially it was intended that the countries of the EU should co-operate in this field. But it was soon realised that this was not sufficient. Many of today’s biggest problems - problems like organised crime, the drug trade, smuggling, terrorism, illegal immigration, cyber crime and many more - do not respect national frontiers, so the EU would need to go further and develop common policies and effective cross-border responses.

This was enshrined in law by the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997and gave the EU the go-ahead to develop some common policies in the JHA field. It also put the issue of illegal cross-border activities and crime at the top of the political agenda.

Policies that the Amsterdam Treaty has put within the European Community system are external borders, immigration and asylum, and judicial co-operation in civil matters. This means that the Commission is responsible for proposing policies and actions (together with member states for five years, 1 May 1999 - 30 April 2004) and for implementing and executing them when the Council of the EU has agreed. Other JHA policy fields that continue to be run by co-operation between member states are customs and police co-operation and judicial co-operation in the criminal field.

The Directorate General for Justice and Home Affairs also offers a number funding opportunities through co-financed programmes covering areas such as asylum and immigration; organised crime; law enforcement co-operation; co-operation in civil matter; etc.

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