Brussels, 15/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on 14 May, before the plenary in Strasbourg, the Spanish Minister for Home Affairs, Mariano Roy, painted a very positive picture of the first four month of the Spanish Presidency of the EU in terms of Justice and Home Affairs. He outlined the advances in developing a European asylum system and in the management of migratory flows, while respecting equal opportunities for immigrants, co-operations with third countries and countries of origin, the fight against illegal immigration and the trafficking of human beings. The Council President recalled the recent initiatives in this area (for example, minimum standards for the hosting of asylum seekers in the Member States, the creation of a standard visa model and forms to establish, within the Member States, a document allowing persons to travel within the EU, an integrated management of the EU's external borders, an action plan against illegal immigration etc.) and announced that the JHA Council, on 13 and 14 June in Luxembourg, would discuss the creation of a visa database.
Then speaking on behalf of the Commissioner responsible for the JHA portfolio, Antonio Vitorino, (detained in Canada for the G8 Justice), his colleague Chris Patten underlined the very close ties that exist between immigration policy and foreign policy and noted that the debate on legal and illegal immigration and the fight against the trafficking of human beings is a debate that must be lead with subtlety, honesty and good will. The Commission, said Chris Patten, will continue to ensure a follow-up to the debates, notably with regards to the hosting of asylum seekers in the Member States, the status of refugees or the establishment of the Eurodac system. He also announced that the Commission will imminently present a Communication on the system for the exchange of information on immigration with countries of origin, and will also plan the establishment of a virtual monitoring centre on immigration.
The flow of immigrants towards the EU ceaselessly increases, but the ability of our countries to host is not unlimited. The sound management of immigration is the great challenge at present, noted Gerardo Galeote (EPP-ED, Spain). The Spanish MEP called on the Commission to present the Parliament with a report on the fight against the Mafia and organised crime, and for co-operations with third countries and transit countries, and stated his agreement that a link exists between foreign policy and immigration policy. What we need is a common European diplomacy, a great European pact for immigration, he concluded. Anna Terron I Cusi (ESP, Spain) spoke in favour of an immigration policy that adapts itself to the employment market, as did the Italian Fiorella Ghilardotti (Damocratici di sinistra). The President of the Liberal Group, Graham Watson, stated; The Liberals are in favour of a legal arrival for immigrants, through the front door, which means that this requires a co-ordinated immigration management policy between the Member States (…) as well as an integrated approach for immigration policy from the moral, economic and humanitarian point of view, he added. The British Green Jean Lambert would like a common immigration and asylum management policy including higher standards that those of today. Pernille Frahem (GUE/NGL, Denmark) noted the present deterioration of the situation stating; 21 million people are seeking asylum! Cristiana Muscardini (UEN, Italy) called for the rapid creation of a European Border Control Guard, working on land and sea, as well as a database, and to make a distinction between legal and illegal immigrants, the latter unknowingly acting on behalf of organised crime. The Dane, Ole Krarup, (European of Democracies and Diversities) stated his shame that his country is the pioneer of a short-term immigration policy.
Immigration (…) will lead to great transformations in the EU, recognised Mariano Rajoy following the debate, from which he drew the following conclusions: 1) Europe has been and will continue to be a host country; 2) immigration must take place legally, but cannot ceaselessly develop as this risks leading to significant marginalisation; 3) the effort to integrate persons from abroad - who must also accept the customs and living conditions in the host country - is the duty of national administrations; 4) the fight against illegal immigration implies an improvement in the police and visa systems, but above all it is necessary to transform immigration policy into one of the main axis of European foreign policy.