Brussels, 15/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission is organising a day's hearing for discussing the elaboration of a common European policy for the repatriation of illegal immigrants to their countries of origin. Based on a Green Paper that came out in April proposing avenues of reflection (see EUROPE of 12 April), the debate will be organised with a view to the deadlines set at the Seville Summit. The Fifteen hope to approve a programme for a European return policy in November. They called on the Commission to present a first draft text by 1 September, to be able to discuss it at the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council, on 13 and 14 September. Then, the Commission will present a communication, probably in October, with a proposed plan of action. Once the action plan has been approved, the Commission will make precise legislative proposals. The hearing on Tuesday will allow discussion on the first results of the consultation process launched on the basis of the Green Paper and will allow comparison of contributions by the Commission, the Member States, several international organisations such as the International Migration Office and several third countries (but very few countries from whence the illegal immigrants come, although the Fifteen want stronger cooperation with these countries, especially in the form of re-entry agreements). Discussions will be organised around three themes: (1) return as an integral part of a comprehensive Community policy for asylum and immigration; (2) minimum norms for return procedures; (3) operational cooperation between Member States.
The Commission hopes that the "Green Paper and the hearing will allow this sensitive debate to settle", the spokesperson for Commissioner Vitorino, Leonello Gabrici, explained on Monday. Christian Klos, from the JHA Directorate General, stressed that "although legislation is very variable, the problem is the same everywhere". He gave the example of retention before expulsion for which the national legislations range from 12 days maximum to no limit with a series of ceilings ranging from two to 18 months. In 2000, there were 87,628 voluntary returns supported by international organisations and 367,000 forced returns. The Commission is also preparing an action plan on the harmonisation of immigration statistics for the end of the year. The Commission deplores the diversity of the measures and assures that, by the end of the year, the statistical instrument will already have improved. "I do not know" if, despite their great declarations against illegal immigration, Member States knowingly keep a "stock of illegal immigrants" as cheap labour but "at any rate we must put an end to this situation", said Mr Gabrici.