The minister for justice, Alberto Costa, will be at the European Parliament on 18 and 19 December.

On the 18th, at 09h00, the minister will appear before the Committee on Citizen's Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), where he will discuss, among other themes, the issue of data protection and protection of privacy when information is exchanged among courts and police authorities, the European Union's recognition and surveillance of penalties and alternative measures to prison and the unanimous assignment of an European Day Against the Death Penalty, a deed already achieved during the last Council for European justice ministers.

The Portuguese presidency in the area of justice promoted the adoption of the Framework-Decision on Personal Data Protection in November, and also concluded the work on the Framework-Decision on the European Union's recognition and surveillance of penalties and alternative measures to prison, on 7 December.

On the following day, also at 09h00, Alberto Costa will appear before the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI), where several issues will be debated, such as the use of mediation on civil and commercial matters in the European Union. The Portuguese presidency achieved an agreement on this directive and on matters pertaining to intellectual property, as well as the adoption of common rules of civil responsibility in the European Union, with negotiations also concluded during the Portuguese presidency.  

Alberto Costa will also take stock of the results of the Portuguese presidency of the European Union in the area of justice.