In their working session on Friday, the 27 debated the way in which the European Union wanted to strengthen political dialogue with the United States to give it more weight in resolving regional crises (notably in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iran, the peace process in the Middle East) and to intensify transatlantic cooperation in response to major global challenges.

The Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) met in Brussels on 24 and 25 July. The morning of the 24th was devoted to national identity and mutually-supportive development in the area of immigration, and chaired by Brice Hortefeux, the French Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development. The afternoon session was dedicated to home affairs and chaired by Michèle Alliot-Marie, the French Minister for the Interior, Overseas France and Territorial Communities. The morning of the 25th was devoted to justice-related issues and chaired by Rachida Dati, Keeper of the Seals and the French Minister for Justice.

The session of the Justice and Home Affairs Council takes place on 24 and 25 July 2008 in Brussels.

On 21 and 22 July in Bordeaux , Rachida Dati brought together those involved in judicial training in the European Union with the ultimate aim of defining a European body of training.

The aim of the conference is to take stock of existing training courses and review training needs, with a view to establishing some future guidelines.

As part of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Mrs Rachida Dati, Minister of Justice, is organising a meeting on the issue 'What future for the training of the judiciary and judicial staff in the European Union ?'

Meeting in Toulouse on 17-18 July 2008, representatives from EU Member States with responsibility for police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, gave new impetus to joint investigation teams.

The European Police Chiefs Task Force (EPCTF) meeting will be held on 11 July 2008 at the Paris-Sorbonne University and will be jointly chaired by the general directors of police and national gendarmerie.

The informal JHA Council meeting will examine immigration-related issues and police and judiciary cooperation measures in order to ensure a high level protection of people.

The French Presidency presented a draft European pact on immigration and asylum to its partners at the informal ministerial meeting in Cannes on 7 and 8 July 2008. It also made a series of proposals aimed at strengthening operational cooperation between police forces and civil protection capabilities. The Presidency also proposed the adoption of specific measures in favour of the protection of vulnerable adults and children as well as the development of a common legal culture of magistrates and judicial personnel in the European Union.

The French Presidency presented a draft European pact on immigration and asylum to its partners at the informal meeting in Cannes on 7 July 2008.