THE European Commission is seeking changes to the EU's workings to bring the bulk of justice and home affairs matters under its control and away from national governments.
The EU executive says that only when the 15 nation bloc has a more effective system for ensuring criminals do not take advantage of its border free zone will EU citizens be able to travel freely without passport checks.
The Swedish Commissioner, Ms Anita Gradin, said in an interview this week that the Commission would seek to bring all home and justice matters except criminal law and police co operation fully under the EU's roof during the inter governmental review of EU treaties due to start in March.
At present co operation on affairs like asylum, immigration, fraud and border controls is handled on an inter governmental level between member countries.
Bringing the matters under the EU's roof would increase the supervisory powers of the EU's Luxembourg based Court of Justice and Court of Auditors.
The Commission's move comes as many of the pending home and justice affairs, initiatives are blocked due to Britain's resistance to handing over more power to the court.