This book set out to solve a puzzle: how is it possible that despite its long-standing defence of human rights and civil liberties and despite being now a co-legislator, the EP has proved unable (or unwilling) to change the direction of internal security policies? The end of the transitional period in 2005 raised high expectations regarding the potential for transforming the AFSJ into a more democratic and, especially, less security-oriented policy field. However, the efforts to widen the debate and underline the need for a better balance between security and liberty seemed to pay lip service to its past battles in the AFSJ but, generally they did not translate into tangible rights and protections. As a consequence, the legislative outcomes of these last few years have not fulfilled the expectations raised by the EP’s empowerment.