Brussels, 16/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, in Zaragoza, Commissioner Antonio Vitorino presented within the framework of a report of the informal EU justice/home affairs ministers meeting last week in Stockholm (see EUROPE of 10 February, p.6/7), the broad lines of the "global asylum package" to be published by the Commission before the end of June.
Speaking at the Round Table organised by the Party of European Socialists (PES) on the theme "Migration and Cultural Identity", Mr Vitorino announced a general debate would be initiated on immigration (some issues, such as the draft directive on family reunification, are already on the Council table, beginning an awareness operation on these sensitive issues. The European Commission will propose common European standards concerning illegal immigrants, covering decisions on expulsion, detention and deportation, in an overall package of effective and human "immigration" measures, said Commissioner Antonio Vitorino.
In an article published in the PES newsletter on its round tables, Mr Vitorino makes it clear that "zero immigration policies" are "definitely no longer feasible" and that Europe needs the workforce provided by migrants. Mr Vitorino also insisted on the fight against illegal immigration, the trafficking of human beings and economic exploitation of migrants (which mainly requires information campaigns and cooperation on visa policy and false documents), as well as the need to promote an integrated approach so that migrants and local communities can easily adapt to one another, respecting the cultural differences that exist but without forgetting that "common values must always be in the first line, for example, respect for human rights and the democratic system". Mr Vitorino recalled that the Commission has already proposed a directive on family reunification. He added that the readmission agreements to the country of origin are the best way of ensuring the voluntary return of people", and that negotiations are under way with Russia, Morocco, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.