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Justice - Home affairs

5. Immigration and asylum

All EU member states are affected by the flow of international migration. The EU is stable and safe and the largest market area in the world; it attracts legal and illegal immigrants and asylum seekers. Taking advantage of persons seeking a better life, human smuggling and trafficking networks have taken hold across the EU – fighting this has demanded increasing resources from the member states.

The 1999 European Council in Tampere, Finland, set out the elements for a common EU immigration and asylum policies, the objectives of which were carried forward in the Hague programme 2005-2010.

Following these objectives, minimum standards, measures and procedures are being drawn up for asylum seekers, who have been forced to escape war, persecution or natural disasters. Practical cooperation plays an important part in fostering solidarity and responsibility sharing between member states: southern and eastern member states tend to carry a heavier burden in this than the northern ones. The external dimension of asylum is now given special emphasis. The EU intends to deal more effectively with root causes and seek durable solutions to refugee situations, in close cooperation with the UNHCR. Also, a joint resettlement programme is being developed in cooperation with third countries.

EU’s immigration policy addresses such issues as economic migration (the conditions of admission and stay of third country workers), integration of immigrants to the EU, the returning of illegal immigrants, effect of economic migration to the countries of origin (including brain drain) and relations with third countries. The Union works actively with countries that are the source of much immigration to improve their citizens’ future prospects in their home environment. Special programmes also exist to promote respect for human rights and democracy and to encourage economic development.

A new financial instrument, the Aeneas programme, has been set in order to finance migration-and asylum-related actions in third countries. €250 million are foreseen for the period of 2004-2008.

The fight against illegal immigration on the Union’s borders has intensified in recent years. The EU seems determined to prevent abuses of its immigration and asylum systems.