Of significance in the area of security policy are the decision to bring the Western European Union (WEU) closer to the EU and the prospect of a later integration of the WEU into the EU. The so-called “Petersberg tasks” (peacemaking, peacekeeping and humanitarian tasks) will be incorporated into the Treaty on European
Union.

The European Council’s competence to establish guidelines will be extended to obtain to the WEU. p>|mportant aspects of policy in the fields of justice and home affairs will be transferred to the more effective Community procedure (overall visa policy, regulations pertaining to external borders, policy on asylum/refugees, immigration and residency requirements for citizens of third countries, cooperation between judicial authorities in civil matters, some aspects of customs cooperation, endeavors to combat fraud affecting the financial interests of the Community). 5>ln the case of those aspects of policy in the fields of justice and home affairs which will continue to be handled by intergovernmental cooperation, the new instrument of framework decisions will simplify the procedure.

The role of the European Court of Justice has been significantly expanded. New as well are the vesting of the European Police Office (Europol) with operational powers and the integration of the successful Schengen cooperation into the framework of the European Union.