Since the reunion of the Council of Tampere in 1999, huge steps
have been taken in the realization of an area of security, freedom,
and justice, especially in the sector of asylum, immigration,
and management of external borders.
In the last five years the base has been put in place for a common
policy in the matter of asylum and immigration. The harmonization
of border controls, as well as improved police cooperation, have
been arranged.
With the adoption of the Hague program in 2004, a further phase
in common policy in these sectors began, with the definition of
a new agenda which will allow the European Union to carry on what
has already been realized as well as to face future challenges.
Future actions will need to be founded on solidarity and a fair
distribution of responsibilities, obviously including financial
implications and a closer practical cooperation between the Member
States.
Such a strategy sees a renewed role of the Commission, through
its powers of initiative; of the Council, which will express its
will on the basis of a qualified majority vote; and of the European
Parliament, which will participate concretely and effectively
in the adoption of single actions through the procedure of joint
decision making.
• The objectives to be pursued regard in particular:
- The definition of a common European regime in the matter of
asylum;
- A new management of legal migration and a renewed commitment
in the fight against illegal labor;
- The integration of third country citizens in the Member States;
- An active partnership with the Third Countries of migration
origin and transit;
- An effective policy directed to repatriation and readmission
of third country citizens who don’t satisfy or no longer
satisfy conditions of sojourn or residence in a Member State;
- A common political management of migration, a determined and
firm contrast to clandestine immigration and trafficking in human
beings;
- The management and control of the external borders of the European
Union through a coordination policy and an operative, concrete,
and effective cooperation by Member States.
- A common policy in the matter of visas.
To accomplish such objectives – for each of which investigations
and projects are under way – adequate financial measures
will have to be adopted. Within the new outlooks (2007-2013),
they are expected in the framework program “Solidarity and
management of migration”.
