Brussels, 21/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - What progress has the European Union made on managing migratory flows and promoting mobility within a safe environment? In a report adopted on Friday 21 February, the European Commission examines the most striking aspects of developments in the external migration policy of the EU over the period 2012-2013: 10 years after the launch of a revised Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM), “considerable progress has certainly been made towards reinforcing dialogue and cooperation between the EU and its partners, but it is still possible to go even further”, the Commission states.
The partnerships for mobility, the agreements to facilitate the issuance of visas and the readmission agreements, as well as the common visa policy, “are still important instruments”, says Cecilia Malmström, the commissioner for home affairs. However, “we must do even more to support economic growth and competitiveness and, jointly with the third countries, to tackle the negative aspects of migration, such as the trafficking in human beings and illegal trafficking in migrants”, she added.
The partnerships for mobility have proven their worth in responding to the issues of migration and asylum to the benefit of both sides. So far, partnerships for mobility have been concluded with six countries: Moldova (2008), Cape Verde (2008), Georgia (2009), Armenia (2011), Morocco (2013) and Azerbaijan (2013). The partnership with Tunisia will be signed imminently. In addition, discussions with Jordan started in December 2013.
Over the period 2012-2013, the Commission supported a total of more than 90 projects in the field of migration, with financial support in excess of €200 million for all of the regions of the developing world. At the same time, the member states of the EU earmarked additional funds to implement the GAMM.
According to the Commission, additional efforts are required in the field of refugee protection and human rights. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) could play a greater role in improving hosting and asylum capacity in third countries. Better use could also be made of regional protection programmes.
Improved coordination of resettlement measures at EU level and between the member states would make it possible to act more quickly and effectively to situations of crisis, the Commission points out. It states that the EU should channel more resources, under the new asylum and migration fund (2014-2020), to fund resettlement measures or admission measures on humanitarian grounds.
The Commission also takes the view that: - the question of the migration of labour will be vital over the next few years and the role of the partnerships for mobility could be accentuated on this point (for example, by facilitating student or professional exchanges, by improving migration management capacities in third countries, setting in place circular migration programmes, enhancing the social protection of migrants residing legally, assessing whether there is a case for the mobility of social rights, etc); - facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas could have many positive effects on the development of the third country; - the entire potential offered by the visa policy of the EU should be harnessed to promote economic growth and cultural exchange.
In the coming weeks, the Commission will propose amendment to the visa code to further facilitate travel for the travellers, while ensuring a high level of security for the EU. (LC/transl.fl)