Troika meeting in Prague between the EU and the USA
On 28 April 2009, Beatrice Ask and Tobias Billström and their delegations took part in the spring Troika meeting on justice and home affairs between the EU and the USA. The meeting took place at the Liechtenstein Palace in Prague, hosted by the Czech Presidency.
Group photo from the meeting. Photo: Emanuel Allroth
As the incoming Presidency, Sweden played an important role during the meeting, since many proposals and projects already underway will need to be reviewed during the autumn and hopefully concluded then. One example is the issue of data protection. The new administration in the US is interested in strengthening and deepening cooperation with the EU, and Brussels-based discussions at senior official level will commence immediately.
Photo from the Troika meeting Photo: Emanuel Allroth
Beatrice Ask together with US Attorney General Eric H. Holder. Photo: Emanuel Allroth
The idea is to present a tangible proposal ahead of the autumn Troika meeting at the end of October in Washington. Both Ms Ask and Mr Billström had bilateral discussions with their US colleagues ahead of the Troika meeting. The topics discussed included the fight against trafficking in human beings and cooperation with third countries, the Stockholm Programme, external relations, procedural rights and Guantanamo. The US was invited to the Presidency conference 'Towards a Global EU Action against Trafficking in Human Beings' on 19-20 October in Brussels.
Following the Troika meeting, Ms Ask and Mr Holder signed a ratification protocol to the agreement on extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
