Brussels, 19/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 19 June, the heads of state and government adopted conclusions in favour of a genuinely effective action in the field of immigration. "We need to move from our pact to actions!": this maxim of European Commissioner Jacques Barrot, speaking on the eve of the adoption of the pact on immigration and asylum at the end of 2008, sums up the ambition of the European Council. "I would like to see an even more ambitious immigration policy!", said French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking about the policy of financial supervision at the conference.
Responding to the "humanitarian urgency"… In their conclusions, the European leaders pointed out that recent events in Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta underlined the "urgency" of the efforts to be made to "prevent and combat illegal immigration effectively on the southern maritime borders of the EU", but also "to prevent human tragedies". Since the beginning of the year, these countries have been calling on the EU for concrete measures - the reinforcement of Frontex, solidarity on asylum, readmission agreements - to prevent thousands of migrants from arriving on their shores, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa (EUROPE 9850). As a result of this, the 27 confirmed that "a determined European response based on rigour, solidarity and shared responsibility" was essential. Amongst other things, they referred to the European Pact on asylum and immigration, a document adopted by the EU in October 2008 under the French Presidency (EUROPE 9763) and to the global approach to migration (EUROPE 9755). The implementation of these instruments "must be speeded up", particularly as regards cooperation with the countries of origin and transit and "all activities west of the Mediterranean, and on the eastern and southeastern borders (of the EU) must continue", the conclusions state.
…By "concrete measures". The European Council partially adopted the idea of the European Commission to propose the creation of "voluntary measures" for dividing, within the Union, the beneficiaries of international protection and particularly vulnerable people present in the most exposed member states, such as Malta (EUROPE 9915). On this, the head of Spanish diplomacy, Miguel Angel Moratinos, spoke of a "good start to solidarity" between the member states. The leaders also urged the Council and Parliament to reach an agreement on the rapid creation of a European bureau for asylum support, which should be in place by the end of the year (EUROPE 9916). They also call for a reinforcement of the control activities carried out on the borders by Frontex, for an increase in the use of joint return flights, and also stressed the need to define clear rules of engagement for joint patrols and the disembarkation of people rescued at sea. The European Council also calls for reinforced action to fight organised crime and criminal networks involved in the trafficking of human beings. "What already exists for illegal immigration in the western Mediterranean will be applied in the central Mediterranean", said Mr Moratinos.
Reinforced cooperation with third countries. In this field, the EU27 pleaded in favour of "the significant reinforcement of cooperation with the principal countries of origin and transit" and call upon the Commission to explore concrete cooperation with these countries. The conclusions lay particular emphasis on the need to conclude negotiations underway with the key countries of origin and transit, such as Libya and Turkey. However, the text specifies that before then, the existing bilateral readmission agreements must be brought into force "appropriately". Should it be inferred from this that the EU27 approve of the readmission agreement signed last year between Italy and Libya and that they are warning Rome against sending potential asylum seekers back to this country (which does not observe the Geneva Convention on Refugees) (EUROPE 9912)? Whatever the case may be, the Italian foreign affairs minister, Franco Frattini, welcomed these conclusions: "in them, we are saying something above and beyond the Pact. The countries which are the worst affected are mentioned by name". He also welcomed the fact that the problems posed by Libya and Turkey had been taken into account. "Before the next European Council, there will be an emergency plan", he said.
It is, however, worth noting that, compared to previous versions, these conclusions are at stalemate over issues such as cooperation with third countries on the reception of asylum applications, protection of those in receipt of international protection, and cooperation with organisations active in these countries, such as the UN High Commission for Refugees.
The European Council calls on the Council of Ministers with responsibility for immigration issues to take "full" account of these priorities when, at the end of the year, they adopt the "Stockholm" programme (2000-2014) in the field of "Justice, Liberty and Security" (EUROPE 9918). Lastly, the EU27 call upon the Commission to put forward new proposals at the forthcoming meeting of the European Council, on the basis of an appropriate response to these issues. (B.C./transl.fl)