European Union criminal procedure policy as part of the European Union's policy in the field of the fight against criminality

Abstract

This article is devoted to finding the term that would be optimal for naming the procedural part of the European Union's policy in the field of the fight against criminality.
 The terms «EU policy in the field of the fight against criminality», «EU criminal policy», «EU law enforcement policy» are used to refer to a separate type of European Union policy.
 Adhering to the position of giving preference to the use of the term «policy in the field of the fight against criminality», it is seen that such a construction can be applied in the context of the European Union and, as we see, is in demand. However, it should be recognized that a significant number of European scholars use the term «criminal policy of the European Union».
 Thus, it is proposed to use the term «European Union policy in the field of the fight against criminality» as a generalized concept that better reflects its non-level, but namely complex structure and relatively independent but interconnected basic elements, parts, first of all, EU criminal policy and EU criminal procedure policy.
 Of course, we can talk about other parts of the European Union's policy in the field of the fight against criminality, in particular, criminology, but the primary interest in the study is its procedural component.
 There are various terminologies in the literature that define it. For example, the following options can be identified: 1) «EU policy in the field of judicial and law enforcement cooperation»; 2) «European Union Justice and Home Affairs Policy». The term «EU policy in the field of justitia and home affairs», which is as close as possible to the latter wording and also used; 3) «European Union policy on criminal procedure»; 4) «European justice policy».
 The most common term is «procedure». For example, «criminal procedure policy of the EU» and its interpretation. The words «procedure» and «process» are synonymous words.
 Accordingly, to denote the procedural part of the European Union's policy in the field of the fight against criminality, it is acceptable to use the term «criminal procedural policy of the European Union» as the optimal.