eu migration law

7/30/2019 EU Migration Law

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SPEECH/11/310

Cecilia Malmstrm

Commissioner responsible for Home Affairs

A better management of migration tothe EU

Press conference on communication on migration

Brussels, 4 May 2011


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Today we have adopted a Communication which outlines a comprehensive strategyfor a common EU asylum and migration policy.

The Commission has been working intensively for quite some time, with the Counciland with the European Parliament and other stakeholders on these issues.

Progress has been made but a lot still needs to be done. We have the intention, withthis Communication, to bring our work forward and to set out our long-term political

vision on the different aspects of our migration policy.Our ambitions have been reinforced by the recent events in the SouthernMediterranean. While the historical changes in the region bring hope for a better lifefor millions of people in our neighbourhood, as well as for greater respect of humanrights, pluralism, the rule of law and social justice, the political unrest and militaryconflicts have also led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

The EU has supported the democratic aspirations of these people, and we mustcontinue to provide a long term support for the process of transformation takingplace in the region and the migratory movements that has resulted.

The vast majority of the over 650 000 people fleeing the violence have foundhospitality in the neighbouring countries, primarily in Tunisia and Egypt, which areshouldering the greatest burden.

So far, very few people seeking international protection have come to Europe.However, since the start of the Hermes operation in the Mediterranean on the 20February this year, over 25 000 people have arrived by sea to the EU, mainly to Italyand to Malta.

Of them only a few thousand have asked for international protection, to becompared with the 236,000 that asked for asylum last year.

This increased migratory pressure on some of the Member States has raisedquestions about the efficiency of European migration policies. While the EUresponse to the emergency situation has been comprehensive, the current crisis

has exposed the fact that there are still ways in which the EU can better deal withsuch situations and with migration management generally.

The Communication addresses issues in a comprehensive way because it allgoes together. Visa policy cannot exist without an efficient border control; irregularmigration cannot be addressed unless we have proper return and readmissionpolicy; we cannot give international protection without a common asylum policy thatis fair and efficient; legal migration cannot succeed if it is not accompanied byintegration.

This document is a catalogue of initiatives to come. When and if they are all in placewe can really talk about a true European migration policy.

The current crisis has confirmed the need for increased solidarity at EU level and abetter sharing of the responsibilities.

We need to step up our efforts to further alleviate the burdens on the most affectedMember States and to make sure that we have an effective system of migrationmanagement which increases the trust among Member States when it comes tomigration.

As you know, we have prolonged the pilot project to Malta. We are still monitoringthe situation very closely and it is possible not today, not tomorrow but if thesituation worsens that we will trigger the temporary protection directive.


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We are also seeking new ways to deliver concrete solidarity using the tools that wehave: our agencies, our financial assistance and other forms of cooperation. And wemust also show continued support towards North Africa, to the people there in needof international protection. And for that purpose, next week the Commission ishosting a conference to discuss resettlement for Malta but also from North Africa.

Borders

In order to have a functioning migration policy we must ensure that people can trustthat we have functioning border controls. We need to strengthen Frontex, as theCommission proposed already a year ago and we must make sure that the MemberStates can effectively control their portion of the external borders.

We are going to propose intensified cooperation on border surveillance, and thefeasibility of some kind of European border guard system. We will put forwarddifferent proposals to the Member States concerning smarter border initiatives tofacilitate crossings for bona fide travellers but also to make sure that we have bettercontrol of the border with an entry-exit system etc. This is provided for in theStockholm programme.

Lately there has been a lot of discussion about Schengen. Schengen is a fantasticachievement that we secured in the European Union and we should protect anddefend it. It is a beautiful achievement for the mobility of the people of the EuropeanUnion.

It can of course be improved and that should be done by better evaluation, bettergovernance, and better implementation. The Commission will also issue guidelinesin order to guide the Member States on how it should be implemented.

We will look at the possible introduction of a suspension mechanism under verystrict conditions, monitored on a European level.

We are also looking at the visa issue and a modification of the visa directive with a

safeguard clause in case of abuse; as well as different ways in which we canfacilitate the use of the current tools that we have such as the visa code, theSchengen borders code; and also the possibility of setting up joint visa applicationcentres in neighbouring countries.

Legal migration

Secure borders do not mean that we are constructing fortress Europe. It will still bepossible for people to seek international protection in the European Union and wemust also keep it open for the labour migration that we so desperately need.

Migrants contribute a lot to European economy, to European culture, to Europeanhuman resources. They create new jobs and bring new ideas and new innovation

and help fill the gaps in labour that we cannot fill from within the European Union.They also help address the demographic challenge that European societies arefacing.

We will make proposals in line with the European 2020 Agenda within the year.

Of course, legal migrants also need to be integrated. There are a lot of goodexperiences in the European Union, but also some less positive ones. We will alsopropose in a few weeks, a Communication on integration building on best practicesin Member States, trying to identify models and mechanisms that are necessary,and focusing very much on local solutions.


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As we celebrate this year the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Convention theEuropean Union must live up to its vocation to offer a haven to those in need ofprotection.

It is now time to complete the Common European Asylum System. Negotiations areongoing, there is progress, but it is still too slow. We need an agreementon theasylum package by 2012, as was agreed by all Member States.

We also need to have an agreement on the European resettlement programme. IIknow that progress is being made between the Council and the EuropeanParliament on this.

External dimension

Finally, we need a strong partnership with the North African countries to find a longterm solution to migration issues.

We have already started to discuss mobility partnerships with Egypt and Tunisia,building on all aspects of migration: border, control of irregular migration, fightingtraffickers who make a lot of money in this business but also measures that facilitatelegal migration and labour migration. We need to have a strategic approach to this.

Later this year we will put forth a proposal on a global approach to migration buildingon partnerships with third countries.

I am fully convinced that we need a robust political debate on migration and asylum,and I am looking forward to discussing these issues with the interior ministers at theJustice and Home Affairs Council next week. Today the Commission hascontributed to that debate with a strong message: Europe needs to strengthen theexisting rules, and not to undermine them. We need to address this challenging andevolving situation through long-term measures based on the values of the respectfor law and the respect of international conventions and, not through a short-termapproach limited to border control. We need leadership that can stand up against

populist and simplistic solutions. We need clarity, responsibility and solidarity. Weneed more Europe, not less.

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