Immigration and asylum
A Europe of responsibility, solidarity and partnership in migration and asylum matters
Asylum-seekers' reception centre in Malta
Under the Tampere programme the Council has adopted a series of Directives laying down common rules on immigration matters (e.g. the 2003 Directive on family reunification). With regard to asylum, the Directives on reception conditions, procedures for granting asylum and eligibility and the Dublin Regulation have the same general objective: to create a level playing field for asylum and lay the foundation for a Common European Asylum System.The Stockholm Programme aims at effective regulation of immigration and more coherent and fairer European asylum law.
■ A dynamic and comprehensive migration policy
In the context of the important demographic challenges that will face the Union in the future, flexible migration policies will make an important contribution to the Union's economic performance in the longer term. The interconnection between migration and integration remains crucial, with regard to the fundamental values of the Union. EU action is based on the principles set out in the Global Approach to Migration and the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. A balance must be maintained between the three aspects of the Global Approach:
The Stockholm programme aims at effective regulation of immigration and more coherent and fairer European asylum law.
The interconnection between migration and integration remains crucial, with regard to the fundamental values of the Union.
Migration policies must be more closely coordinated with development policies.
- promoting mobility and legal migration;
- optimising the link between migration and development, and
- combating illegal immigration.
Migration policies must be more closely coordinated with development policies. One of the steps envisaged is to make improvements at European level to systems for migrant workers' remittance transfers. The Union should encourage the creation of flexible admission systems that are responsive to Member States' needs and enable migrants to take full advantage of their skills and competence in order to facilitate better labour matching on the European labour market. The Union must ensure fair treatment of third country nationals who reside legally on the territory of its Member States. A more vigorous integration policy should aim at granting them rights and obligations comparable to those of citizens of the Union. European cooperation can contribute to more effective integration policies in the Member States by providing incentives and support for their action.
The fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of persons, integrated border management and cooperation with countries of origin and of transit, supported by police and judicial cooperation, must remain a key priority. It is important to ensure that the implementation of the instruments adopted in the area of return and sanctions against employers, as well as the readmission agreements in force, is monitored in order to ensure their effective application. Unaccompanied minors arriving in the Member States from third countries represent a particularly vulnerable group which requires special attention and dedicated responses.
■ Asylum: a common area of protection and solidarity
The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) must be based on high protection standards, while preventing abuse. The goal is to adopt the CEAS by the end of 2012.
The Union cooperates with third countries hosting large refugee populations.
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) should further develop a common educational platform for national asylum officials, building in particular on the European Asylum Curriculum (EAC).
Effective solidarity with the Member States facing particular pressures should be promoted. Mechanisms for the voluntary and coordinated sharing of responsibility between the Member States should therefore be developed.
The Union cooperates with third countries hosting large refugee populations. The EASO should thus be fully involved in the external dimension of the CEAS. In its dealings with third countries, the Union also has a responsibility to actively convey the importance of acceding to, and implementing, the 1951 Geneva Convention and its Protocol.