Brussels, 22/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - European employers (UNICE) strongly condemn the economic use of illegal immigrants and is convinced that it is in the interest of the European societies as a whole that a more open immigration policy be developed. Such a policy must be based on a detailed analysis of the lack of skills and long term labour needs in an enlarged European Union characterised by increased labour mobility. It must be managed within a correctly organised framework. Such was UNICE's recent comment on the Commission communication entitled "A Community Immigration Policy" (see EUROPE of 23 November 2000).
While generally sharing the Commission's analysis whereby "zero immigration" policies are no longer adapted, UNICE considers that, given the abolition of controls at EU internal borders, a common European response is needed. UNICE therefore supports the proposal of a common approach and a more open policy in immigration matters, which takes into account subsidiarity, demographic changes and differences between national labour markets within the Community. As the employers explain, the Community framework should, above all, deal with the issues that cannot be settled at national level. Such issues include that of knowing whether, and under what conditions, admission to the labour market and the right to stay in a country may give rise to admission to other Member States. Furthermore, UNICE hopes the Commission will be specific on certain points. Does the Commission, therefore, aim to establish a one-stop shop and a single procedure for admission, stay and access to the labour market, or does it aim to have separate procedures and permits? What does the Commission mean by indicative objectives (preferable to the inflexible quotas as far as admission conditions are concerned)? How would the latter be defined? By whom? At what level? UNICE also insists that procedures should be transparent, simple and rapid. It stresses the importance of strengthening integration and regrets that the communication does not sufficiently take education into account, not only as an instrument of integration of immigrants but also in the fight against racism and xenophobia.