EU Immigration Policies: Stockholm Programme & European Pact
Stockholm Programme (2010-2014)
Priorities of EU Policy (2010-2014):
A) Priorities of EU policy for five years:
- Promoting citizenship and rights, with the goal of European citizenship becoming a reality and fully guaranteeing the right to free movement within the Community. It is “one of the fundamental principles underlying the Union and one of the fundamental freedoms of the European Union.”
- A Europe of law and justice, in which all people can assert their rights in all EU states.
- Improving the security of people, including inter alia the strengthening of border management, access to Europe in a globalized world more effectively and efficiently, combined with integrated border management and visa policy.
- Enhancing the EU’s external dimension, with greater integration of policies on freedom, security, and justice in general EU policy.
- Development of “a policy of looking and comprehensive European migration, based on solidarity and responsibility.” It is basically to implement a policy that, on the one hand, prioritizes the needs of Member States and, on the other, allows the full development of the potential of migrants.
The link between immigration and the labor market is one of the most significant features of the Community immigration policy.
Objectives have been set in the medium term and should not be guided solely by the situation in the short term (as in this case, the policy is probably too restrictive in terms of admission of third-country nationals). Europe, both for demographic and purely economic reasons, will still need an influx of immigrants (although their professional qualifications are subject to extensive debate, there is a majority belief that there is a largely personal need with a high skill level, as evidenced by the adoption of the directive on highly skilled workers). It is advisable to strengthen the mechanisms favoring legal migration, making it possible to respond both to the (changing) needs of each state for immigrants in terms of proper use of their skills and competencies.
European Pact on Immigration and Asylum (October 2008)
A) Organization of legal immigration, taking into consideration the needs, priorities, and reception capacities determined by each Member State and to encourage integration. The Council calls on all Member States to implement a selective immigration policy, especially in terms of labor market needs and agreed, taking into consideration the possible impact on other Member States. Immigration policy is determined by each state and must respect the principle of Community preference for employment.
B) Fight against illegal immigration, including by ensuring the return to their country of origin or transit country for foreign nationals in an irregular situation. It is intended that each state recognizes return decisions taken by another Member State, which raises the need for readmission agreements, whether Community or of each State, with the countries from which comes the increased flow of irregular immigration.
C) The importance of enhancing the effectiveness of border controls. Stresses the reference to the need for solidarity of all states to those whose geographical situation implies a greater flow of migrants to its territory. It continues to emphasize the improvement of means of the agency Frontex.
D) Building a Europe of asylum. It is launching a common European asylum policy in the context of the Hague Programme 2004 – 2009 (now Stockholm Programme 2010 – 2014). The granting of protection, especially for refugee status, is the responsibility of each Member State.
E) Create a global partnership with countries of origin and transit to encourage synergies between migration and development. Migration should be an important component of the external relations of the Member States and EU, and that means “to consider, in relations with third countries, the quality of dialogue that exists with them on immigration issues.”