Lisbon, Jan. 29, 2021 (Lusa) - European Union (EU) justice ministers are discussing on Friday, at an informal meeting chaired by Francisca Van Dunem, the main sectoral priorities of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU, with the protection of vulnerable adults as one of the most relevant topics.

The so-called Justice and Home Affairs Council, which started on Thursday, continues today with justice ministers from the 27 Member States and European justice commissioners Didier Reynders and home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson.

On the agenda for the meeting, which will take place by videoconference from Lisbon, will be the protection of vulnerable adults in cross-border situations, and, with the debate extended to Commissioner Johansson to criminal law and intellectual property rights, from the perspective of the link between counterfeiting and organised crime, as well as the challenges of digitalising justice, the three Portuguese presidency priorities for the area of Justice.

On Wednesday, Van Dunem made the point, in a speech before parliament's committee on legal affairs, that "the protection of vulnerable adults assumes a central role" in the work programme for this six-month period, justifying it also in the light of the little progress made over the years.

Van Dunemsaids that "guaranteeing and promoting the rights of vulnerable adults in the civil and criminal sphere" is a "strategic priority, which deserves joint reflection by all the Member States", which is why this topic will be discussed today.

The Portuguese presidency's first official event regarding justice will end with a joint press conference by Francisca Van Dunem and Didier Reynders.

AMG/ADB // ADB.

Lusa