Package of measures to reinforce solidarity between Member States in border management and fight illegal immigration more vigorously

Today the Commission adopted a package of measures comprising 1) a Communication on policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third-country nationals, 2) a proposal for a Regulation establishing a Community Code on visas and a 3) a proposal for a Regulation on the powers and the financing of rapid reaction teams of border guards seconded to another Member State to provide technical and operational assistance. This package significantly reinforces the EU’s efforts to increase solidarity between Member States and fight illegal immigration more vigorously. It responds to the need for an effective and coherent common visa policy at EU level, for clear and well-defined measures designed to combat the growing phenomenon of illegal immigration and for more substance to be given to the concept of solidarity in the area of immigration and asylum in particular in the field of border management.

Vice-President Frattini, the Commissioner responsible for Freedom, Security and Justice stated: «We need to step up and be more effective in our fight against illegal immigration, which is fundamental to the credibility and coherence of our immigration and asylum policies. In particular by being tough on illegal employment we are also helping to prevent illegally residing immigrants from being exploited and we are removing the key pull factor for illegal immigration. One of the main priorities should be to impose sanctions on employers of illegally residing third-country nationals in those Member States that have not already done so, and to ensure effective implementation by all Member States. Action at EU level designed to harmonise such sanctions could be an additional preventive tool for further illegal immigration, while at the same time creating a level playing field for employers»

The Vice-President added: «This package provides the missing link in the comprehensive, global and balanced approach to effective migration management, as endorsed by the European Council in December 2005, and complements my recent policy initiatives in this area, such as the Policy Plan on Legal Migration, the Communication on Migration and Development, and the Communication proposing a Common Agenda for Integration. It ties in completely with with the Rabat Action Plan on Immigration and Development that countries of origin, transit and destination agreed upon only last week».

Future priorities to fight illegal immigration

The Communication on policy Priorities in the Fight against Illegal Immigration explores in particular how to further secure external borders, for instance by introducing intelligence led ‘e-borders management’ and by creating an automated entry-exit system.,It also addresses the issue of regularisation (3,752,565 persons have been regularised in five EU countries since the early 1980s) and the need to tackle the problem of employment of illegally residing third-country nationals.

Community Code on short-stay visa

The proposal addresses some of the objectives of the Hague programme to facilitatelegitimate travel and tackling illegal immigration through further harmonisation of national legislation and handling practices at local consular missions.In line with the simplification, and «better regulation» policy of the Commission, this proposal incorporates all legal instruments governing decisions concerning the conditions and procedures for issuing visas into a single Code on Visas. By removing ambiguities, and further clarifying Common EU Visa rules, the transparency of visa policy will be increased which will greatly benefit both consular staff of the Member States and visa applicants..

Rapid reaction teams of border guards

The proposal, which deals with the establishment of Rapid Border Intervention Teams, their tasks and financing, is a major step forward in the development of an integrated border management system at European level and will help in no small measure to further solidarity between Member States and the Community in the field of external borders.

Brussels, 19 July 2006