Strasbourg, 03/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The recent new impetus, under the pressure of events, in terms of the European Union's policy in Justice and Home Affairs should benefit "all JHA sectors", signalled the European Commissioner responsible for these matters, Antonio Vitorino, during a debate at the European Parliament on the reports on the Commission's Communications on a common procedure and a uniform asylum status, and on a Community immigration policy (reports by Robert Evans (Labour, UK) and Hubert Pirker (ÖVP, Austria)). In order to maintain this dynamism, he said, Member States must move towards common solutions and be aware that EU legislation cannot copy fifteen different national legal systems. Thanks in particular to the Belgian Presidency, Mr Vitorino felt the European Union was dealing with a new political agenda in terms of Justice and Home Affairs, noting the "very clear message" of the extraordinary Summit of 21 September, and the need to strike a political balance between strengthening police and legal co-operation and creating an area of freedom, security and justice, "in other words, protecting the fundamental rights of citizens". The Commissioner once again noted the pitfalls of a pillar structure, commenting, for example, on the close connection between development policy and migration issues. (See EUROPE of 29 September, pages 8/9; and 1/2 October, pages 9/10 for more information about the last JHA Council.)
As for the President of the Council, Antoine Duquesne, he confirmed that the European Council of Laeken (Brussels) would relaunch the political dynamism of the Tampere Summit two years ago, and regretted that Member States sometimes described challenges that are really political issues as technical problems. The Belgian Interior Minister stressed the need to give urgent, but also reassuring answers to citizens who are concerned about the "changes" in immigration flows, but repeated that he did not want a "Fortress Europe". Mr Duquesne welcomed Commissioner Vitorino's "intelligent" proposals, his very broad mind and his ability to accept challenges in the interest of advancing the European project. He added that the Council of Ministers should again play the role of political arbiter. In terms of asylum, he called once again for the "full application of the Geneva Convention", noting that EU Member States have nothing to be ashamed about in this connection. While stressing the need to find solutions to the problems of human distress, Mr Duquesne said that a distinction had to be made between those requesting asylum who were seeking international protection and those who were guided by other, sometimes legitimate, motives. We have to take action to prevent conflicts and combat the new form of slavery, human trafficking, hammered home the President of the Council.
During the debate, Robert Evans stressed the need for a common asylum policy and a rejection of turning inwards. The British Labour MEP said that cities needed help in catering for immigrants, who needed good quality health, accommodation and education. Hubert Pirker said that the EU was now, for the first time, taking immigration problems seriously, but that immigration alone would not suffice to cope with Europe's falling birthrate and that a genuine family policy was required. Christian Ulrik von Boetticher (CDU) strongly criticised the Evans Report, saying that he already felt that the Council would not be able to reach consensus on his proposals and calling for a much more minimalist approach to asylum. He said that the EU could not solve all the problems of Muslim refugees, criticising the UK government's attitude to asylum. On the other hand, the Spanish Socialist Anna Terron I Cusi said she shared Mr Evans analysis one hundred percent, while the British Liberal Democrat Sarah Ludford stressed that asylum seekers had to have sufficient protection, even if they were not always refugees in the strict sense of the word. French Green MEP Alima Boumediene-Thiery criticised the Pirker Report for focussing too much on managing migration flows rather than on human problems. For Giuseppe Di Lello (GUE, Italy), it was important to go beyond the idea of "safe countries" which was a relative notion since many refugees leave such "safe" countries because they are persecuted there. Roberta Angelilli (UEN, Italy), however, welcomed the Pirker Report since she felt that well regulated immigration was not only in the interest of Europe, but also of migrants' countries of origin, although she felt that Europe should not behave in a selfish manner. The Lega Nord MEP Francesco Speroni argued that greater selection was needed in asylum and immigration policy and noted that a law was being prepared to this effect in Italy (noting in passing that some immigrants had welcomed the 11 September attacks). Ole Krarup (EDD, Denmark) took advantage of this opportunity to warn against creating a European super-state. Finally, Georges Berthu (Non-Attached, France) found the European Commission's Communication disappointing, feeling that the document on asylum and immigration policy that had been unveiled by the Austrian Presidency in 1998 was far more desirable.
After the debate on Wednesday, Parliament adopted the Evans report by 298 to 235 with 37 abstentions on a common asylum policy, coming out in favour of a policy guaranteeing a high level of protection for refugees. The Pirker report was adopted by 378 votes to 134 with 37 abstentions, highlighting the difficulties to be overcome to establish an EU immigration policy (see EUROPE of 19 September, p.17).