Brussels, 24/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 24 May, alongside its communication on partners in mobility and visa proposals, the Commission presented its annual report 2010 on the way member states have implemented the 2009 pact for immigration and asylum and the Stockholm programme adopted in 2009. On this occasion, it also issued a series of recommendations to the attention of the 27 EU member states.
The Commission first of all tackles legal migration and labour migration within the EU. It notes that the current imbalance between labour market needs and competences available must be dealt with by the EU27. It takes the view that filling these gaps by managing immigration of third country nationals who have the appropriate skills and qualifications should be at the centre of their efforts. It thus calls on the EU27 to fully transpose, by June 2011, the directive on the “blue card” for highly qualified migrants, to find a swift agreement on the single work and stay permit, and to make progress on other dossiers such as the seasonable employment directive and the intra-company transfer directive.
On asylum, the Commission calls on member states to reach agreement by the end of 2012 on its asylum package aimed at setting a common regime in place. The Council is again invited to adopt the European programme for resettlement of refugees.
On the integration of migrants, the Commission recommends gradually ensuring the social and economic integration of third country nationals, acknowledging the economic potential of migrants and conducting effective integration policies.
With regard to illegal immigration, the EU27 are invited to fully transpose the “sanctions” directive against illegal employers and the “returns” directive by July. On the subject of external border management, the Commission calls on the Council and EP to complete their discussions as soon as possible on strengthening Frontex. Finally, the Commission invites the EU27 to continue implementation of the 2010 action plan on unaccompanied minors. This catalogue of recommendations is to prepare the debates of the European summit on 24 June. (S.P./transl.jl)