The President of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, Dr Lovro Šturm, will appear in the European Parliament before the members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on 26 June 2008.

The LIBE Committee is responsible for the protection of civil and human rights, including those of minorities. It is also competent for measures on combating discrimination, development of an area of freedom, protection and rights, and for establishing serious violations of the principles shared by the Member States.

Dr Šturm will, among other things, emphasise the significance of the agreement achieved at first reading on the Directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law. He will inform the MEPs of the general approach agreed on the Framework Decision on the enforcement of decisions rendered in absentia, which boosts the level of citizens' rights. He will also inform the committee members on the agreement reached on key chapters of the proposal for a Regulation on Maintenance Obligations. The Slovenian Minister of Justice will notify the MEPs of the Member States' agreement on removing the formalities required to recognise judgments in maintenance obligation matters. Maintenance beneficiaries will thus be able to assert their rights faster and more efficiently in cross-border cases.