Brussels, 14/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The first requirement of the European Parliament for the new Justice and Home Affairs programme to be launched by the European Council on 5 November is simple: it wants to have its say. For the time being, the EP has no consultative role. With the report by Jean-Louis Bourlanges (ALDE), which was adopted in Thursday's plenary session, the EP is calling for transition to codecision and qualified majority for asylum and immigration as of 1 April 2005 (see the Council's draft , pages 9 and 10), then for terrorism and international crime. It wants to be consulted on international agreements.
In its resolution, which we will publish in its entirety, the European Parliament stresses the importance of developing legal routes for immigration. Although the Commissioner designate Rocco Buttiglione, and many Member States, feel that the definition of family should remain in the domain of each Member State, the European Parliament wants measures "aligning family law" and "guarantees for freedom of circulation of citizens of the Union and members of their family, and the registered partner, of either sex".