At its meeting in Brussels on 27 June 2024, the European Council agreed on the Strategic Agenda for the years 2024-2029. For the years 2024 to 2029, the Strategic Agenda envisages a free and democratic Europe, a strong and secure Europe, and a prosperous and competitive Europe.

The strategic agendas set the EU’s priorities and its strategic orientations every five years. They are issued by EU leaders in connection with the European Parliament elections and ahead of the appointment of each European Commission. As such, the respective agenda guides the work of the EU institutions: the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission are invited to put them into action during the next institutional cycle. Furthermore, the next Multiannual Financial Framework for the Union will reflect the priorities set out in the agenda. For the Strategic Agenda for the period 2019-2024 → eucrim 2/2019, 86-87.

To achieve freedom and democracy, the 2024-2029 agenda promotes European values within the Union, namely upholding respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. The EU also continues to support these values on a global level.

To ensure a strong and secure Union, the European Council is committed to ensuring coherent and influential external action. To strengthen the Union’s security, strategic dependencies shall be reduced, capacities scaled up, and European defence strengthened.

To strengthen the inner security of the EU in the field of criminal law, the agenda sets out the following aims:

• Fighting crime offline and online;
• Preventing and tackling corruption;
• Combatting organised crime and disrupting the flow of illicit profits from cross-border criminal activity;
• Countering attempts to sow division;
• Opposing radicalisation, terrorism, and violent extremism.

To do so, the Union shall use all the law enforcement and judicial cooperation tools at its disposal.

In the field of migration, the EU aims to pursue a comprehensive approach to migration and border management. Irregular migration shall be prevented and countered, and solutions found to thwart the security threat posed by instrumentalised migration.

As regards the EU’s potential enlargement, the Strategic Agenda foresees a merit-based approach to accession with tangible incentives.

Lastly, to achieve its aim of a prosperous and competitive Europe, the agenda would like to bolster the EU’s competitiveness by, for instance, furthering and deepening the Single Market, achieving the Capital Markets Union, and completing the Banking Union. The promotion of an innovative and business-friendly environment will enhance the green and digital transitions. It is also planned to mutually advance the social dimension of the EU.