The area of freedom, security and justice includes issues such as asylum, immigration, border controls, judicial co-operation in criminal matters and police co-operation. The decision-making process in these areas is complex. Ireland and the UK are not obliged to be bound by decisions in this area but each may decide to be involved in particular issues – they may opt in or opt out of particular decisions.
The Treaty of Lisbon brings many of the decisions in this area into the ordinary legislative procedure. The opt-out for Ireland and the UK is continued. Ireland issued a declaration (which is not legally binding) that it proposes to opt in to decisions in this area to the maximum extent possible and to review the entire opt-out clause within 3 years.