Migration in Europe – 27.11.2007, Prague, Czech Republic
EU Migration and Asylum Policy
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CCME
Churches‘ Commission for Migrants in Europe is the ecumenical agency on
• Migration and Integration, • Refugees and Asylum, and • against Racism and Discrimination in
Europe
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CCME‘s Mission
CCME is the ecumenical organisation that serves the churches in their commitment to strangers, responding to the message of the Bible which insists on the dignity of every human being.
Migration – Normality and Reality
Reasons forcing people to leave their country are manifold:conflicts and warspolitical, ethnic or religious
persecution poverty and unemploymentNatural catastrophes, drought,
shortage of water…
Migration – Normality and Reality
Migration is however not only by force. Motivations are:Improvement of living conditionsEducation and trainingChanging lifeFamilyAdventureBut also: Mission
Net migration
Migration – Percepetions
Migration Africa-Southern Europe (Spain, Italy)
Flight, Dispair, RiskSmuggling and
Trafficking in Human Beings
Fortress Europe?
For years, decreasing refugees and asylum seekers in Europe
Little acceptance of immigration, despite demographic need
Migration regarded more a problem than a reality
EU Policy Migration and Asylum
80ies: Freedom of movement in the EU for EU citizens – right
90ies: Limitation of asylum with common standardsSchengen ConventionDublin Convention
1999-2004 Tampere Programme2004-2009 Hague Programme
Categories of EU legislation Asylum and
Migration
Migration of EU citizens in the EU falls under „internal freedom of movement“ within the EU (still with exemptions however of new EU members as of 1. 5. 2004)
Asylum and migration policy concerns citizens of non-EU countries („Third Country Nationals“) – e.g. persons from Ukraine
Asylum and migration policy is broadly ruled through EU Directives setting a framework which need to be transposed into national legislation
Competence of the EU in Asylum and Migration
Council of Tampere 15./16. Oct. 1999 decided an ambitious legal and political programme in the field of asylum and migration:
- Common European Asylum system
- Equal Treatment of Third Country Nationals
- Fighting irregular migration
- Cooperation with countries of origin
Protecting Refugees
Geneva Refugee Convention 1951EU Directives:
Temporary Protection (2000)Reception Conditions (2003)Definition and Status of Refugees
(2004)
Lack of protection for refugees
Decreasing rate of recognition of grounds of asylum, restricted access to asylum procedures
Dublin II Regulation (2003) and EURODAC 2002
Asylum prodedures directive (2005) No asylum procedure in case of „safe“
country of origin or „safe“ third countryExamination of the way, rather than the
reason for seeking asylum
Externalisation of refugee protection
Cooperation with countries of origin and transit
Readmission Agreements of the EU (Morocco, Ukraine, Russia)
Refugee protection in the regions, programmes since 2005/2006Region of Great Lakes/East AfricaUkraine, Byelorussia, Moldavia
EU Border Control Agency FRONTEX
Evaluation of EU asylum directives
Less refugees in most EU countries and the EU as a whole
Dublin II and Eurodac evaluation: Relative increase of cases in border countries in the South and East of the EU
Border countries do not treat all asylum claims if referred under Dublin II
Asylum Procedures Directive – EU Court of Justice, EP vs EU Council
Common European Asylum System
Green Book June 2007 and Hearing November 2007
Minimum Standards Common System and Status
Refugee Resettlement as durable solution and protection in other regions in cooperation with UNHCR
Migration Policy
Family Reunification Directive (2003)
Long Term Resident Third Country Nationals (2003)
Entry and residence for study, training (2004)
EU initiatives against irregular migration
- Cooperation between EU and EU Member States with Third Countries on limiting migration (Liaison officers for immigration, document verification prior to departure e.g. U.K.-France, U.K.-Belgium) - > Decison on a Network of immigration liaison officers (EC/377/2004)
- Action Programme Return (2002) and financial instrument return (15 million € per annum since 2005)
- Common Border Guard Units – European border agency FRONTEX (decided in 2004, seat in Warsaw), common curricula for border guards and financial instrument for border security
- EU Directive Common Standards for Return – under negotiation
New migration policy?
And the Czech Republic…
Compared to other countries in the region, low emigration
Transit country rather than destination for asylum seekers
Immigrants 2,5 % of the population
Churches‘ views and positions
The human being „created in the image of God“ deserves undivided dignity
„You shall treat the stranger among you as one of you“
Therefore, fair and humane migration policy and treatment of migrants, and proper protection of refugees.
CCME Rue Joseph II 174
B-1000 BrüsselTel: +32 2 234.68.00Fax: +32 2 231.14.13E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.ccme.be