Komisjoni teatis nõukogule ja Euroopa Parlamendile - Üldine lähenemisviis migratsioonile üks aasta hiljem: Euroopa tervikliku rändepoliitika poole /* KOM/2006/0735 lõplik */
[pic] | EUROOPA ÜHENDUSTE KOMISJON | Brüssel 30.11.2006 KOM(2006) 735 lõplik KOMISJONI TEATIS NÕUKOGULE JA EUROOPA PARLAMENDILE Üldine lähenemisviis migratsioonile üks aasta hiljem: Euroopa tervikliku rändepoliitika poole Üldine lähenemisviis migratsioonile üks aasta hiljem: Euroopa tervikliku rändepoliitika poole 1. REAGEERIMINE RÄNDEPROBLEEMIDELE 2005. aasta oktoobris arutasid riigipead ja valitsusjuhid rännet kui peamist globaliseerumisega seonduvat probleemi ning leppisid kokku tegevuse hoogustamise hädavajalikkuses. EL oli suuteline kiiresti reageerima. Kuu aja jooksul koostas komisjon tervikliku tegevuskava: Prioriteetsed meetmed rändeprobleemide lahendamiseks: esimene tagasiside Hampton Courti kohtumisele.[1] Kõnealuses teatises esitati konkreetsed meetmed, mis lähenevad rändele igakülgselt ning olid aluseks Euroopa Ülemkogus Aafrika ja Vahemere piirkonna üle peetud arutelule. 2005. aasta detsembris võttis Euroopa Ülemkogu vastu dokumendi "Üldine lähenemisviis migratsioonile: Aafrikale ja Vahemere piirkonna riikidele suunatud esmatähtsad meetmed." Üldise lähenemisviisiga on koostatud ühtse rändepoliitika ja -meetmed, käsitledes suurt hulka rändega seotud teemasid ning ühendades omavahel erinevaid asjaomaseid poliitikavaldkondi, sealhulgas välissuhted, areng, tööhõive, õigusküsimused, vabadus ja turvalisus. Valitud lähenemisviis näitab selgelt aktiivset solidaarsust, mis tugineb liikmesriikide vahel ja koos kolmandate riikidega jagatud vastutusele. Ränne on kõikidele ajalooetappidele omane nähtus. Muude ajalooetappide ja kogu maailma elanikkonnaga võrreldes ei ole rändajate arv maailmas tänapäeval suurem. Sellest hoolimata on ränne Euroopa jaoks muutunud olulisemaks. Kõigest mõne kümnendi jooksul on Euroopast väljarändepiirkonna asemel saanud sisserändajate peamine sihtkoht. OECD ja Eurostati andmete kohaselt pärinesid 2004. aastal peamised rändevood kolmandatest riikidest Euroopa Liitu Rumeeniast, Marokost, Bulgaariast, Türgist, Ukrainast ja Vene Föderatsioonist. Sissevool on mitmekesistunud seoses üha suurema hulga sisserändajatega uutest lähtepiirkondadest Kesk- ja Ida-Euroopas, Aasias (eriti Hiina), Aafrikas ning Kesk- ja Lõuna-Ameerikas (eriti Ecuador). Sisseränne Aafrikast on viimaste kuude jooksul märkimisväärselt suurenenud. Kõnealuse arengu peatumine lähiajal on vähetõenäoline ning rändesurve võib suureneda. Demograafilist seisukorda arvesse võttes vajab EL samas sisserändajaid, et tagada oma tööturu jätkusuutlikkus. EL peab konkureerima muude maailma piirkondadega ning vajab seetõttu asjakohaste oskustega sisserändajaid. Käesoleval teatisel on kaks eesmärki. Esiteks vastab see üleskutsele, mille Euroopa Ülemkogu tegi komisjonile: anda aru üldise lähenemisviisi rakendamise edusammude ning Aafrikale ja Vahemere piirkonnale suunatud prioriteetsete meetmete kohta 2006. aasta lõpuks. Teiseks pakutakse teatises välja võimalused muuta Euroopa Liidu lähenemisviis tõeliselt terviklikuks . See on vastuseks justiits- ja siseministrite poolt 21. septembril Tamperes ning riigipeade ja valitsusjuhtide poolt 20. oktoobril Lahtis tehtud üleskutsetele suurendada jõupingutusi. Seetõttu soovitatakse teatises hõlmata muid poliitikavaldkondi, näiteks seaduslikku rännet ja integreerimismeetmeid, mida 2005. aasta detsembri üldises lähenemisviisis ei olnud. Niiviisi hõlmab partnerlus kolmandate riikidega kõiki küsimusi, mis pakuvad huvi ja valmistavad muret kõigile pooltele. Selle taustal ja arvestades pakilist vajadust tugevdada ELi rändepoliitikat ja seonduvaid poliitikavaldkondi, on vaja tõhusaid otsuste tegemise menetlusi , sealhulgas seadusliku rände puhul, sest nii saaks EL vastata kodanike ootustele asjaomases valdkonnas. Euroopa põhiseaduse leping pakub otsuste tegemise protsessi praegustele nõrkade külgede tugevdamiseks asjakohast lahendust, kohaldades seadusliku rände suhtes kvalifitseeritud häälteenamusega hääletamist ja tavapärast seadusandlikku menetlust (kaasotsustamine). Praeguse olukorra puhul pakuks EÜ asutamislepingu artiklis 67 sisalduv nn passerelle klausel olulist võimalust selle eesmärgi saavutamiseks ajal, mil otsitakse igakülgset institutsioonilist lahendust Euroopa Ülemkogu poolt juunis 2006 loodud raamistiku abil, ja seda võimalust tuleks kasutada. Püüdes jätkuvalt tugevdada ELi terviklikku rändepoliitikat, moodustas komisjon rändeküsimustega tegeleva volinikerühma. Samalaadset arengut, kus omavahel ühendatakse erinevad, ent seotud poliitikavaldkonnad, võib täheldada ka mitmes liikmesriigis ning seesugust suundumust tuleb tervitada ja võimaluse korral julgustada. Teatises keskendutakse Aafrikale ja Vahemere piirkonnale, kuid terviklikkus peaks tulevikus hõlmama ka laiemat geograafilist mõõdet. Tõsist tähelepanu peaks pöörama lähenemisviisi rakendamisele muudes piirkondades, eriti ELi ida- ja kagupiiri äärsetel aladel, võttes arvesse asjaomaste rändeteede puhul tekkinud probleeme. Lisaks, kuigi mitte lähiaja prioriteedina, tuleks silmas pidada rändega seotud küsimuste osatähtsuse kasvu meie suhetes Aasia ja Ladina-Ameerika riikidega ning nende riikide suurenenud ootusi koostöö suhtes ELiga. Peale selle kutsuti hiljutisel Iberoameerika tippkohtumisel intensiivistama dialoogi ja koostööd rände alal ning arvestama riiklikus poliitikas, allpiirkondlikel foorumitel ja rahvusvahelistes kokkulepetes Montevideo kompromissiga rände ja arengu kohta. Käesoleva dokumendi 3. osas kirjeldatud meetmeid ja tegevuspõhimõtteid saaks samalaadselt kohaldada meie koostöö ja dialoogi suhtes Ladina-Ameerika ja Aasiaga. 2. ÜLDISE LÄHENEMISVIISI RAKENDAMINE: ESIMESEL AASTAL AAFRIKAS JA VAHEMERE PIIRKONNAS SAAVUTATU 2006. aasta on olnud Aafrikaga tegevuskava väljatöötamise aasta. Möödunud aasta juulis toimus Rabatis rände- ja arenguteemaline ministrite konverents, millest võttis osa umbes 60 Lääne- ja Kesk-Aafrika rändeteede äärde jäävat riiki. Septembris osalesid Aafrika ja ELi riigid ÜRO kõrgetasemelisel kohtumisel, kus arutati rände ja arenguga seonduvaid küsimusi. Novembris peeti Liibüas rände- ja arenguteemaline ELi ja Aafrika ministrite konverents, et koostada esimest korda ELi ja Aafrika vahelist rännet käsitlev ühine lähenemisviis. Ränne on korduv päevakorrapunkt dialoogis ja koostööprogrammis Vahemere piirkonna riikidega ja seda on käsitletud lähtuvalt olulisest tööst, mis on juba tehtud Euroopa naabruspoliitika raames, ning parima tava vahetamiseks ja ühise programmi suunas töötamiseks on ära kasutatud Euroopa – Vahemere piirkonna foorumit. Ränne on olnud päevakorras ka kõrgetasemelistel kohtumistel Aafrika Liidu ja piirkondlike organisatsioonidega. Cotonou lepingu artikli 13 alusel avati rändeküsimustes dialoog tähtsamate Saharast lõuna poole jäävate Aafrika riikidega. Kiirreageerimise korda on kasutatud Mauritaania ja Senegali toetamiseks nende püüdlustes tulla toime ebaseadusliku rändega. Vähem kui 12 kuu jooksul on töö kõigi esmatähtsate meetmetega tõepoolest alanud. Aasta lõpuks on käivitatud Euroopa Liidu liikmesriikide välispiiril tehtava operatiivkoostöö juhtimise Euroopa agentuur FRONTEX ning on koordineeritud mitut ühist mereoperatsiooni Atlandi ookeani ja Vahemere piirkonnas, viidud lõpule riskianalüüs Aafrika kohta ja esitatud teostatavusuuring Vahemere rannapatrullide võrgu loomise ning kogu ELi lõunapoolset merepiiri ja Vahemerd hõlmava jälgimissüsteemi sisseseadmise kohta. Peamistel Aafrikat läbivatel rändeteedel on loodud sisserände kontaktametnike piirkondlikud võrgud. Komisjon esitas ettepaneku luua piirivalve kiirreageerimisrühmad ning teostas rahvusvahelise mereõiguse analüüsi. Üksikasjalikum aruanne üldise lähenemisviisi rakendamise kohta on esitatud lisas B . 3. Seostatuse suurendamine: Terviklik euroopa rändepoliitika Tervikliku lähenemisviisi aluseks peab olema kindlalt kolm põhimõtet: liikmesriikidevaheline solidaarsus, partnerlus kolmandate riikidega ja rändajate, eelkõige vähekaitstud rühmade, nagu alaealiste kaitse. Järgnevalt pakutakse välja võimalusi selle lähenemisviisi arendamiseks nii Aafrikas kui ka mujal. 3.1. Dialoogi ja koostöö tihendamine Aafrika päritolu- ja transiidiriikidega 3.1.1. Dialoog Aafrika riikidega Üldise raamistiku ELi koostööle Aafrikaga määrab kindlaks ELi Aafrika-strateegia, mille Euroopa Ülemkogu võttis vastu 15.–16. detsembril 2005. Kõnealuse strateegia peaeesmärgid on saavutada aastatuhande arengueesmärgid ning edendada Aafrikas säästvat arengut, turvalisust ja head valitsemistava. Edaspidine töö rändevaldkonnas peab ühtima kõnealuse strateegiaga, eriti kui tegeldakse rände peamiste tekkepõhjustega nagu vaesus, konfliktid ja töötus. Ülejäänud ELi poliitika, sealhulgas kaubandus-, põllumajandus- ja kalanduspoliitika, peaks olema samade eesmärkide teenistuses järjekindla arengupoliitika tõhustamise abil. Liibüas 22.–23. novembril 2006 toimunud ELi ja Aafrika ministrite rände- ja arenguteemalisel konverentsil püstitati edukalt koostööprioriteedid ja võeti vastu ambitsioonikas deklaratsioon, mis paneb aluse Aafrika ja ELi ühistegevusele mandri, piirkondlikul ja riiklikul tasandil mitmetes valdkondades alates võitlusest ebaseadusliku rändega kuni inimeste korrapärase liikumise soodustamiseni ja meetmeteni, mille abil tegelda rände algpõhjustega. Aafrika ja EL peaksid tõsiselt hakkama lõppdeklaratsioonis sisalduvaid meetmeid rakendama, et saavutada konkreetseid tulemusi, millest anda aru kahe aasta pärast toimuval teisel ministrite konverentsil. Samuti oli piirkondlikul tasandil edukas juulis peetud Rabati konverents, mis sillutas teed tegutsemiseks konkreetsetel rändeteedel. Nüüd tuleks pingutada eelkõige selle nimel, et tagada töö asjakohane jätkamine, pidades silmas edusammude hindamist teisel ministrite konverentsil kahe aasta pärast. Samuti tuleks tihendada ELi ja Ida-Aafrika vahelisi kontakte, et arendada välja konkreetne koostöö Ida-Aafrika rändeteedel. Rändeteedel tehtud töö põhjal edendab EL spetsiifilisemat koostööd Aafrika eri piirkondadega. Koostööplatvormid ühendavad Aafrika riike, ELi liikmesriike ja rahvusvahelisi organisatsioone püüdlustes hallata rännet tulemuslikumalt, arvestades kõikide huve. Käesoleva ühise raamistiku tulemuseks võiks seega olla piirkondlike kokkulepete koostamine asjast huvitatud Aafrika riikidega. Kahepoolsel ja piirkondlikul tasandil toimuvat dialoogi ja koostööd Põhja-Aafrika riikidega arendatakse edasi Euroopa naabruspoliitika raames. Rändeküsimused on esmatähtis osa naabruspoliitika tegevuskavades, poliitilises dialoogis ja finantsabis, et tugevdada nende riikide suutlikkust hallata rännet tõhusamalt. Töö peab jätkuma ka Euroopa-Vahemere piirkonna koostöö (EUROMED) kontekstis. Partnerid on leppinud kokku jätkata tööd 2005. aasta novembris Barcelonas kokkulepitud viie aasta tööplaani peatükkidega, mis käsitlevad rännet, sotsiaalset integratsiooni, õigusküsimusi ja turvalisust. See peaks võimaldama rändeteemalise ministrite konverentsi kokku kutsuda 2007. aasta teisel poolel. Samuti integreerib EL jätkuvalt rändega seotud küsimusi oma tavapärasesse poliitilisse dialoogi kõigi AKV riikidega ja tähtsamate piirkondlike majandusühendustega. Kõnealune dialoog tugineb Cotonou lepingu artiklis 13 esitatud laiaulatuslikule tegevuskavale, mis hõlmab rände ja arenguga seotud teemade laia ringi. ELi poolelt juhivad dialoogi vastavalt Cotonou lepingu artiklile 8 komisjoni delegatsioonid ja eesistujariigi saatkonnad asjaomastes riikides ja kaasavad huvitatud liikmesriike. Juhul kui see on asjakohane, edendatakse dialoogi veelgi komisjoni erilähetuste abil. 2006. aastal toimus kolm niisugust artikli 13 kohast lähetust. Muud tähtsamad Aafrika riigid, sealhulgas Kamerun, Etioopia, Ghana ja Nigeeria, järgnevad 2007. aastal. Lääne-Aafrika riikide majandusühenduse (ECOWAS) ja ELi ühine rändetöörühm kohtub esimest korda 2007. aastal. EL peaks ka aktiivselt osalema ÜRO kõrgetasemelise rände- ja arengualase dialoogi järelmeetmetes, eriti seetõttu, et luuakse ülemaailmne rändefoorum. Komisjon on valmis aktiivselt panustama kõnealuse foorumi esimesse kohtumisse, mis leiab aset 2007. aasta suvel Belgias. 3.1.2. Rände ja arengu tegevuskava edendamine Rände ja arengu tegevuskava esmaseks väljakutseks on saada võitu peamistest rände tõuketeguritest: vaesusest ja töövõimaluste puudumisest. EL peab mõistma, et töökohtade loomisega arengumaades saaks oluliselt vähendada rändesurvet Aafrikast. Sisserändajaid tuleks toetada nende päritoluriikide arengu toetamise teel. Lisaks suureneb jätkuvalt tagasisaadetud rändajate hulk ning komisjon otsib kõnealuses valdkonnas koostöövõimalusi selliste institutsioonidega nagu Maailmapank ja Euroopa Investeerimispank. Jõupingutusi tehakse andmekogumise täiustamiseks, ülekandekulude vähendamiseks, finantssektori kui ülekandevõimaluse kasutamise soodustamiseks ja võimaluste otsimiseks, et tõsta tagasisaatmise mõju arengupoliitikale. ELi programm “Ränne ja areng Aafrikas” peaks leidma võimalusi pakkuda AKV riikidele arengusuuniseid, mis aitaksid toime tulla rändeprobleemidega. Kõnealuse koostööalgatuse esimene eesmärk oleks tegelda tõsiselt korralike töökohtade puudumisega Aafrikas. Laiemas Aafrika-sisese tööjõurände ja liikuvuse lihtsustamise kontekstis on oluline prioriteet investeeringute soodustamine suure väljarändega piirkondade tööjõumahukates sektorites. Muud koostöövaldkonnad hõlmavad tagasisaatmisi, ajude väljavoolu, diasporaasid, head valitsemistava ning ebaseaduslikku rännet ja inimkaubandust. Ka liikmesriigid on oodatud nende tegevuste kavandamisel komisjoniga ühinema. Komisjon eraldab algatuse esimeseks järguks 40 miljonit eurot (üheksanda EAFi vahendid), mida täiendavad toetused liikmesriikidelt. Kõnealuse algatuse geograafiliseks ulatuseks on Saharast lõuna poole jääv Aafrika, kuid tegevus võib keskenduda ka konkreetsetele riikidele ja piirkondadele ning – selle esimeses järgus – eelkõige Lääne-Aafrikale. EL peab jätkuvalt aitama Aafrika riikidel suurendada rände ja varjupaigaasjade – sh lõunast lõunasse suunduvate rändevoogude – haldamise suutlikkust , ilma et see piiraks olemasolevate rännet ja liikuvust käsitlevate piirkondlike lepingute kohaldamist. Euroopa naabruspoliitika riikides on tehtud haldussuutlikkuse tõstmiseks olulisi algatusi, eelkõige piirihalduse ja institutsioonidele antava abi küsimustes, et parandada nii sisserändajate vastuvõtmist kui ka nende õiguste kaitsmist. Peale selle on komisjon teinud ettepaneku luua iga huvitatud arengumaa rändeprofiil .[2] Rändeprofiil on poliitiline vahend, mis aitab koguda ja analüüsida asjakohast teavet, mida on vaja rände- ja arenguvaldkonnas teatavale olukorrale vastavate konkreetsete meetmete väljatöötamiseks. Riiklike uue põlvkonna strateegiadokumentide lisana on koostatud kokkuvõtlikud rändeprofiilid kõikide AKV riikide kohta. Kõikide partnerriikide kohta tuleks koostada rändeprofiilid keskmise pikkusega tähtaja jooksul. Sellist teavet saaks kasutada tehnilise ja finantsabi andmisel Aafrika riikidele, et nad saaksid rändevoogude algpõhjustega tegelda. Üks võimalus oleks luua rände tugirühmad , kuhu kuuluksid liikmesriikide eksperdid, kes annaksid vajadusel abi seda soovivatele Aafrika riikidele. Euroopa peaks muutuma rändeküsimustes aktiivsemaks ja osavõtlikumaks. Rändepoliitika peab tuginema usaldusväärsetele tõenditele ning olema ühtne muude sellega seotud poliitikavaldkondadega. Poliitika ja teadusuuringute vaheliste sidemete soodustamine võib aidata paremini mõista rände tegelikku sisu ja poliitilisi muutusi. Vahemere piirkonna riikide rändeuuringutega tegelevaid instituute ühendavast võrgustikust inspireerituna toetab komisjon tugialgatusi, millega soodustatakse kogu Aafrikat hõlmavat rände jälgimiskeskuste ja/või rändeuuringute instituutide võrgustiku loomist. Samuti tuleks EÜ rahaliste vahendite abil rakendada mestimismeetmeid, et aidata Aafrika riikidel välja arendada oma rände- ja varjupaigapoliitika. Lisaks peaksid komisjoni delegatsioonid ja liikmesriikide lähetused Aafrika riikides tagama, et nad on võimelised tegelema rändega seotud küsimustega, määrates selleks ametisse rändeküsimustega tegeleva kontaktisiku. 3.2. Seaduslik ränne Euroopa ühise tööjõu sisserändepoliitika edasiarendamine on üldise lähenemisviisi oluline osa. Et Euroopa rändepoliitika oleks tõeliselt terviklik, tuleb seaduslik ränne integreerida nii ELi sise- kui ka välispoliitikasse. Ränne võib aidata rahuldada tööjõuturu muutuvaid vajadusi ning rändepoliitika majanduslikke aspekte tuleb arvesse võtta. 28. novembril 2006 võttis majandus- ja rahandusministrite nõukogu vastu järeldused tegevuskavade kohta, millega suurendatakse rändest tulenevat majanduskasu ELi jaoks. Vastavalt seaduslikku rännet käsitlevale tegevuskavale ja Euroopa tööhõivestrateegia eesmärkidele kasutab EL järgmistel aastatel kahest lähenemist: teatud vajalikesse kategooriatesse (nt oskustöölised ja hooajatöölised) kuuluvate sisserändajate vastuvõtu lihtsustamine, ilma et see piiraks ühenduse kodanike eelistamise põhimõtet, ning kõigile seaduslikele võõrtöötajatele ühtse turvalise õigusliku seisundi võimaldamine. Muud tegevused peaksid lihtsustama tööjõu nõudluse ja pakkumise vahekorda. Kõnealuse eesmärgi saavutamiseks on hädavajalikud vahendid nii tulevane sisserändeportaal, Euroopa tööalase liikuvuse portaal, EURESe võrgustiku uued suunised ajavahemikuks 2007–2010 kui ka Euroopa teadlaste liikuvuse portaal. Kolmandatele riikidele jagatakse teavet seaduslike töövõimaluste kohta Euroopas, sealhulgas konkreetsete teabekampaaniate kaudu. Tänu kutsekoolituse, oskuste arendamise programmide ja keelekursuste toetamisele paranevad potentsiaalsete rändajate võimalused seaduslikult tööd leida. Kõnealusel eesmärgil võiks partnerriikidesse luua ELi rahastatud spetsiaalsed rändekeskused . Sellised keskused oleksid olulised hooajatööliste, üliõpilaste ja teadlaste vahetuse ning isikute muude seadusliku liikumise vormide haldamise soodustamises. Uutes rändevormides, eriti korduvrändes peituvat potentsiaali tuleks põhjalikumalt uurida. Peale selle on oluline toetada selliste vahendite väljatöötamist, millega hallata tõhusamalt tööjõu rännet kolmandatest riikidest ELi. See nõuab järgmiste meetmete toetamist: kolmandates riikides tööjõu rände eest vastutavate haldustalituste tugevdamine, kolmandate riikide riiklike tööhõivetalituste haldussuutlikkuse tõstmine ning vahendusasutuste arendamine ja rände-eelsete kavade rakendamine päritoluriikides. Kui on täidetud teatud tingimused, nagu ebaseadusliku rände alane koostöö ning tõhus tagasivõtumehhanism, võiks eesmärk olla leppida mitme huvitatud kolmanda liikmesriigiga kokku liikuvuspakettides , mis võimaldaksid asjaomaste riikide kodanikele parema ligipääsu ELile. On olemas selge vajadus ELi ja kolmandate riikide vahelise seadusliku liikumise eri vorme paremini korraldada. Liikuvuspaketid pakuksid välja üldise raamistiku kõnealuste liikumiste korraldamiseks ning ühendaksid omavahel liikmesriikide ja Euroopa Ühenduse pakutud võimalused, järgides seejuures täiel määral asutamislepingus ettenähtud pädevuse jaotust. Laiaulatuslikumate pakettide kontekstis võiksid tagasivõtulepingute kasutuselevõtt, ebaseadusliku rände alase koostöö tugevdamine ja tõhusa piirikontrolli alane koostöö kõik olla viisarežiimi lihtsustamise eeltingimuseks. Komisjon on seisukohal, et liikuvuse lihtsustamine on tähtis osa terviklikus lähenemises rändele, eriti Euroopa naabruspoliitikaga hõlmatud riikides, kus peab tõsiselt uurima, kuidas muuta viisade andmise korda, et see takistaks vähem seaduslikku reisimist ELi ja vastupidi.[3] Arendades poliitikat, mis võtab arvesse kolmandate riikide potentsiaalset kasu töötamise eesmärgil toimuvast rändest Euroopasse, peab EL olema väga teadlik ajude väljavooluga seotud ohtudest ning selle sotsiaalmajanduslikest tagajärgedest arengumaade jaoks. Paljude riikide kõrge kvalifikatsiooniga meditsiinitöötajate massilise lahkumise negatiivsete mõjude tunnistamine on viinud kooskõlastatud ELi strateegia arendamiseni, mis hõlmab põhimõtteid tervishoiuspetsialistide eetilise töölevõtmise kohta ning tervishoiutöötajate iseseisvama koolitamise toetamist Euroopas, et tulevikus kahandada nõrkadele tervishoiusüsteemidele survet avaldav nõudlus miinimumini. Samalaadseid algatusi tuleks ette võtta (võimaliku) oskustega töötajate puudujäägi ja ajude äravooluga tegelemiseks ka muudes sektorites. Ajude ringlusega seotud hüvesid tuleb selles kontekstis tõsiselt uurida. 3.3. Integratsioon ja kultuuridevaheline dialoog Rände ja integratsiooni vaheline seos on ELi jaoks prioriteetne teema. Komisjon kavatseb aktiivselt edendada ühise integratsioonikava rakendamist, mis tugineb integratsiooni peamistele ühistele põhimõtetele, hõlmates kõiki olulisi valdkondi, sealhulgas tööhõivet ning sotsiaalmajanduslikku, tervishoiu, kultuurilist ja poliitilist mõõdet. Komisjon loob vahendid, mis võimavad laiaulatuslikumalt osaleda mitmesugustel sidusrühmadel , sealhulgas rändajatel enestel, aidates niiviisi kaasa tõhusa integratsioonistrateegia soodustamisele. Kõnealuste vahendite hulka kuuluvad: a) integratsiooniplatvormi loomine, et asjaomased partnerid saaksid regulaarselt mõtteid vahetada; b) kohalike asutuste rolli konsolideerimine, toetudes Rotterdamis 9.–10. oktoobril toimunud konverentsi "Linnade integreerimine: Euroopa tegevuskavad, kohalik tava" edule, ning c) integratsiooniteemalise veebilehe loomine, samuti integratsiooni käsiraamatu ning rände ja integratsiooni aastaaruande uued väljaanded. Integratsiooni parandamine tööturul on oluline. Kõrgetasemeline töörühm, kes tegeleb rahvusvähemuste sotsiaalse integreerimine ja nende täieliku juurdepääsuga tööturule peaks esitama 2007. aastal praktilised soovitused, mis võiksid täiustada olemasolevaid tegevuskavasid. EL peab eritähelepanu pöörama rändajate laste haridusele ning kasutama selle eesmärgi täitmiseks protsessi “Haridus ja koolitus 2010” raamistikku. Rohkem meetmeid on vaja ka selleks, et sisserändajad saaksid Euroopa põhiväärtustele suunatud kodanikuõpetust ja omandaksid vastuvõtjariigi keelt. Võimalikud keelekoolituse tõkked tuleks kiirkorras eemaldada. Samavõrd tähtis on tugevdada vastuvõtva ühiskonna võimet kohaneda mitmekesisusega. Euroopa aasta “Võrdsed võimalused kõigile” (2007) eesmärk on sellealast teadlikkust tõsta. Samuti peaks integratsioonivahendina kasutama kultuuridevahelist dialoogi . Euroopa kultuuridevahelise dialoogi aasta (2008) seab esikohale igapäevase dialoogi, näiteks koolides, spordi- ja kultuurisündmustel ning töökohtades. Lisaks peab EL jätkuvalt toetama projekte, mis tegelevad kultuuridevahelise hariduse, sisserändajate hariduse ning ebasoodsas olukorras olevate noorte kaasamisega asjaomaste programmide kaudu. 3.4. Ebaseadusliku rände ja inimkaubanduse vastu võitlemine ELi tasandil tuleb tugevdada võitlust ebaseadusliku rände vastu komisjoni 19. juuli 2006. aasta teatises märgitud prioriteetsetes valdkondades. Prioriteedid hõlmavad vajadust suurendada vastastikust usaldust ja liikmesriikidevahelist teabevahetust, sealhulgas ebaseaduslike sisserändajate seadustamise kohta, ELi territooriumile juurdepääsu kontrollimise tugevdamist ning karistuste kehtestamist tööandjatele, kes palkavad ebaseaduslikult riigis viibivaid kolmandate riikide kodanikke. Kuigi deklareerimata töö ei ole seotud ainult sisserändajatega, esitatakse 2007. aasta kevadel selliste tööandjate vastu suunatud karistusi käsitlevate uute õigusaktide ettepanekud , võttes arvesse asjaolu, et võimalus leida ELis tööd ilma nõutud õigusliku staatuseta on ebaseadusliku sisserände peamine tõmbetegur. Selle kõrval pööratakse rohkem tähelepanu olemasolevate õigusaktide (eelkõige töötervishoiu ja tööohutuse alased direktiivid) jõustamisele, et kaitsta rändajaid. Lisaks tuleks toetada riikide ühinemist ÜRO salakaubaveo ja inimkaubanduse protokollidega . 2007. aastal pühendab EUROPOL tähelepanu ebaseaduslikule sisserändele kaasaaitamise ja inimkaubanduse vastu võitlemisele ning annab jätkuvalt operatiivset jälitusteavet, tuge ja koolitusi, mis on kättesaadavad ka kolmandate riikide õiguskaitseametnikele. FRONTEX peaks omalt poolt Euroopa välispoliitika raames looma tehnilise töökorralduse ühisoperatsioonideks asjaomaste kolmandate riikidega ning kutsuma neid osalema operatiivtegevuses, juhul kui see on asjakohane. Ette on valmistatud tegevuskavad eri rändeteede jaoks, kasutades teede äärde jäävate sisserände kontaktametnike soovitusi. Kontaktametnike võrgustikke tuleb tugevdada eesmärgiga, et kontaktametnik oleks igas peamises Aafrika päritolu- ja transiidiriigis. Lisaks tuleks määratleda “ELi sisserände kontaktametnike” pädevus, nii et nad oleksid suutelised esindama mitut liikmesriiki. Rände haldamise alustalaks jäävad tagasisaatmine ja kodumaale tagasivõtmine . Liikmesriike tuleb toetada vabatahtliku tagasipöördumise programmide ning sunniviisilise tagasisaatmise kavade , sealhulgas ühiste tagasilendude kavandamisel ja rakendamisel. Liikmesriikide toetamine vajalike dokumentide saamiseks ebaseaduslike sisserändajate viivitamatuks tagasisaatmiseks ja tagasivõtmiseks on esmatähtis. Liikmesriike on rahaliselt toetatud nende jõupingutustes parandada tagasisaatmise kõigi külgede haldamist, nagu on ette nähtud tagasisaatmist ettevalmistavates meetmetes, mille tulemusi kasutatakse tulevase Euroopa tagasisaatmisfondi mitmeaastase planeerimise juures. Selle taustal on samuti oluline, et esimesel võimalusel võetaks vastu kavandatav direktiiv, millega luuakse liikmesriikide tagasisaatmiskorra ühtsed eeskirjad. ELi ja Ukraina läbirääkimised tagasivõtmisleppe üle on lõppenud, läbirääkimistel Marokoga on tehtud märgatavaid edusamme. Õige pea alustatakse samasuguseid ametlikke läbirääkimisi Moldova ja Alžeeriaga. Osana tasakaalustatud lähenemisviisist ja vastavalt Euroopa naabruspoliitika tegevuskavades ette nähtud rände- ja viisaküsimuste alasele dialoogile, tuleks oluliste eeltingimuste täitmise järel kavandada tagasivõtmist ja viisade lihtsustamist käsitlevad läbirääkimised iga naaberriigiga. AKV riikidega koostöö puhul on oluline Cotonou lepingu artiklis 13 sätestatud tagasivõtmiskohustus ja see on asjakohane alus täiendavate kahepoolsete tagasivõtulepete sõlmimiseks ELi liikmesriikide ja teatavate AKV riikide vahel. Kohustuse rakendamist tuleks siiski mõista artikli 13 laiemas kontekstis. Kogemused näitavad, et kokkuleppe saavutamiseks peab EL midagi vastu pakkuma. Kahepoolsete tagasivõtmisläbirääkimiste käigus pakuvad liikmesriigid üha sagedamini välja muid kolmandatele riikidele suunatud abi ja toetamise vorme, mis lihtsustaksid kõnealuste lepingute sõlmimist, ning sellise laiaulatuslikuma lähenemisviisi rakendusvõimalusi tuleks uurida ELi tasandil. Olgugi et merepiiride integreeritud haldamine moodustab olulise osa üldisest lähenemisviisist, on selle kohta ette nähtud eraldi teatis teemal Euroopa Liidu lõunapoolse merepiiride haldamise tugevdamine. 3 . 5. Varjupaik ja põgenike kaitse Kuigi on oluline tõhustada jõupingutusi ebaseadusliku rändega seotud küsimuste käsitlemisel, on samuti vaja erinevatest rühmadest koosneva rändevoo hulgas tagada juurdepääs varjupaigamenetlusele neile, kes võiksid vajada rahvusvahelist kaitset. Rabati konverentsil esitatud ÜRO pagulaste ülemvoliniku büroo kümnepunktilises tegevuskavas sisaldunud ettepanekuid peaks kasutama operatiivse koostöö arendamiseks. Ülioluline on säilitada varjupaiga- ja kaitseteemad ühe peateemana meie laiaulatuslikumas koostöös ja dialoogis kolmandate riikidega. Tuleb jätkata piirkondlike kaitseprogrammide elluviimist ning tegevust muudel aladel, näiteks Mauritaanias või Lõuna-Aafrikas, millega toetatakse varjupaigataotlejaid ja rahvusvahelist kaitset vajavaid inimesi. Pakutakse ka rahastamisvahendeid ÜRO pagulaste ülemvoliniku büroo juhitava projekti jaoks, mis koosneb kaitsemeetmetest kõikides Vahemere lõuna- ja idapiirkonna riikides – Maroko, Alžeeria. Tuneesia, Liibüa, Jordaania, Süüria ja Liibanon. 4. RAHALINE TOETUS EUROOPA TERVIKLIKULE RÄNDEPOLIITIKALE 4.1. Välispoliitilise mõõtme toetamine Nagu Euroopa Ülemkogu 2005. aasta detsembri järeldustes juba teatatud, kinnitab komisjon oma kavatsust intensiivistada finantsabi rände- või sellega seotud valdkondades seoses suhetega, mis tal on kolmandate riikidega, sealhulgas on kuni 3%-line eraldis Euroopa naabruspoliitika ja partnerluse rahastamisvahendist ja võrreldavad jõupingutused seoses muude asjakohaste rahastamisvahenditega. Samaväärseid jõupingutusi tehakse ka eelkõige Saharast lõuna poole jäävas Aafrikas, et välja juurida rände tekkepõhjused. Rahastamine suunatakse läbi asjakohaste välisabi instrumentide alusel loodud geograafiliste programmide ning rände- ja varjupaigateemalise programmi . EAFi raames on ELi hea valitsemistava algatus AKV riikide suhtes oluline mehhanism, mis võimaldab kõnealustel riikidel pääseda ligi märkimisväärsetele lisatoetustele, et arendada ja rakendada haldusreforme. Ligipääs kõnealustele kümnenda EAFi ergutusvahenditele sõltub komisjoni ja partnerriigi vahelise dialoogi tulemustest, seoses haldusjuhtimisalaste saavutuste ja tulevikuks võetavate kohustustega, sealhulgas rändeküsimustega. Veelgi enam vahendeid muutub kättesaadavaks ELi Aafrika rände- ja arenguprogrammi kaudu. Pärast ELi-Aafrika rände- ja arengualast konverentsi Tripolis tuleks uurida võimalusi abistada neid Põhja-Aafrika riike, kes soovivad vähendada sisserändesurvet Saharast lõuna poole jäävates riikides rahalise toetuse abil, jõupingutuste kooskõlastamisel ELiga. Koostatud on uus rände- ja varjupaigateemaline programm , mis tugineb Aenease programmist saadud kogemustele ja õppetundidele. Peamine uuendus on see, et toetusi jagatakse nüüd kas geograafiliselt, võttes arvesse “rändetee” mõistet, või läbilõikeliselt, ülemaailmsete ja multiregionaalsete algatuste kaudu, mis ei ole ilmtingimata seotud ühegi üksiku rändeteega. Regionaalpoliitika eesmärk Euroopa territoriaalse koostöö kohta võib pakkuda võimalusi, millega saaks aidata kaasa rände haldamisele koos naaberriikidega, näiteks piirikontrolli, tolliametnike ja politseijõudude ühised väljaõppemeetmed, tugevdatud kontroll sadamates ja lennujaamades, rändealase teabe vahetamise võrgustikud, haldussuutlikkuse tõstmine ja asjakohased rändealased õigusaktid päritoluriikides. Rohkem teavet mitmesuguste rahastamisvahendite kaudu kättesaadavate summade kohta on esitatud lisas C . 4.2. Liikmesriikidevahelise solidaarsuse edendamine Eelarvepädeva asutuse poolt raamprogrammile „ Solidaarsus ja rändevoogude juhtimine “ ajavahemikuks 2007–2013 eraldatud 4020 miljoni euro suurune rahastamispakett on jaotatud neljaks eraldi rahastamisvahendiks, millest igaüks toetab ELi suunduva rändevoo haldamise eri eesmärke: Välispiiride Fond (1820 miljonit eurot), Tagasipöördumisfond (676 miljonit eurot), Euroopa Pagulaste Fond (699 miljonit eurot) ja Integratsioonifond (825 miljonit eurot). Iga fondi puhul läheb suurem osa vahendeist ühise juhtimiskorralduse kaudu otse liikmesriikidele. Need uued vahendid on seotud ühenduse muu rahastamisega, millega toetatakse rändeküsimusi, sealhulgas regionaalpoliitika vahendid, ja täiendavaid neid. Liikmesriigid peaksid kõnealuste vahendite kasutamise suhtes võtma omaks strateegilise ja pikaajalise lähenemisviisi ning toetama riikide meetmeid, mis edendavad liikmesriikidevahelist solidaarsust . Kuigi raamprogrammi peaeesmärk on varjupaigaküsimusi, rännet ja piirikontrolli käsitleva ühenduse poliitika sisemise mõõtme elluviimise tugevdamine , tuleb nii mõnigi kirjeldatud tegevus käesolevas teatises esitatud eesmärkide saavutamisel kasuks. Seose rõhutamiseks esitab komisjon strateegilised suunised, mille eesmärgiks on integreerida rändepoliitika tegevuskava iga fondi tegevusraamistikku. Tunnustatakse kõnealuste tegevuste terviklikku ja paljueesmärgilist olemust ning tugevdatakse raamprogrammi eesmärki – toetada liikmesriikides rände haldamisega seotud tegevuste järjepidevust. Komisjon tagab ka, et otse komisjoni hallatud neljast fondist lähtuvad ühenduse tegevused annavad võimaluse toetada liikmesriike tervikliku rändepoliitika elluviimisel, rahastades praktilist koostööd, arendades ühiseid vahendeid ja viitedokumente, uuenduslikke katseprojekte ning pakkudes sidusrühmadele võimalusi anda eriteadmiste näol oma panus EÜ poliitika arendamisse poliitikale orienteeritud uuringute ja tegevuse kaudu. Samuti on komisjon võtnud kohustuse uurida kõiki võimalusi, kuidas võimendada fondide mõju, saavutades finantskokkuleppeid muude sidusrühmadega, näiteks Euroopa Investeerimispangaga. 5. Järeldused Euroopa Liit peab leidma tervikliku vastuse globaliseerunud maailma rändevoogude haldamisega seotud kasvavatele ja muutuvatele probleemidele. 2006. aasta on olnud üldise lähenemisviisi katseaasta. ELil ja selle liikmesriikidel on õnnestunud algatada seninägematu konkreetne koostöö. Samas on 2006. aastal suurenenud ka rändesurve ELile, eelkõige lõunapiiridel. Seetõttu tuleb tegevust terviklikul viisil laiendada ja tõhustada, näiteks rakendada EÜ asutamislepingu artiklis 67 sisalduvat nn passerelle klauslit, et tõsta EÜ suutlikkust rändealaste väljakutsetega tegelemisel. Alates 1999. aastast on Euroopa Liit teinud ühise rändepoliitika suhtes mitmeid algatusi, mille eesmärgiks on rajada ühine varjupaigapoliitika, võidelda ebaseadusliku sisserände ja inimkaubanduse vastu, tagada seaduslike rändajate õiglane kohtlemine ning luua partnersuhted päritolu- ja transiidiriikidega. Komisjon kavatseb meetmeid süvendada, sealhulgas teha nõukogule ja parlamendile seadusandlikke ettepanekuid seadusliku rände ja sealhulgas võõrtööliste õiguste kohta. Ka liikmesriigid peavad oma jõupingutusi tugevdama, et tagada juba kokkulepitud meetmete kiire elluviimine, ja täiendama ELi tegevust oma algatustega. Ülioluline on, et käimasolevat tegevust hinnataks korrapäraselt ning ELi strateegiaid kohandataks vastavalt hindamise tulemustele, tunnistades samas, et kestev ja asjakohane reageerimine rändenähtusele nõuab pidevaid ja pikaajalisi pingutusi ning suuri ressursse. Annex A REFERENCES The following list contains the full reference of each document quoted in the Communication, as well as some additional recent documents of relevance. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS - Communication from the Commission on Reinforcing the Management of the European Union's Southern Maritime Borders, COM(2006) of 30 November 2006. - Communication from the Commission on Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy, COM(2006) 726 final of 29 November 2006. - Communication from the Commission on The demographic future of Europe – from challenge to opportunity, COM(2006) 571 of 12 October 2006. - Communication from the Commission on Policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third country nationals, COM (2006) 402 final of 19 July 2006. - Communication from the Commission on Implementing the Hague Programme: the way forward, COM (2006) 331 final of 28 June 2006. - Communication from the Commission on Promoting decent work for all: The EU contribution to the implementation of the decent work agenda in the world, COM(2006) 249 of 24 May 2006. - Policy Plan on Legal Migration, COM(2005) 669 final of 21 December 2005. - Communication from the Commission on an EU Strategy for Action on the Crisis in Human Resources for Health in Developing Countries, COM(2005) 642 of 12 December 2005. - Communication from the Commission on Priority actions for responding to the challenges of migration: First follow-up to Hampton Court, COM(2005) 621 final of 30 November 2005. - Communication from the Commission on Migration and Development: Some concrete orientations, COM(2005) 390 final of 1 September 2005. - Communication from the Commission on A Common Agenda for Integration: Framework for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals in the European Union, COM(2005) 389 final of 1 September 2005. COUNCIL AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS - Presidency Conclusions on the Global Approach to Migration: Priority actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean, European Council, Brussels, 15-16 December 2005. - EU Strategy for Africa, European Council, SEC 15961/07, 15-16 December 2005. - A Strategy for the External Dimension of JHA: Global Freedom, Security and Justice, 14366/3/05, 12 December 2005. - Council Conclusions on A Common Agenda for Integration, 14390/05, 1-2 December 2005. OTHER DOCUMENTS - Annual Report on Migration and Integration SEC(2006) 892. - National Action Plans for Social Inclusion 2006-2008. - European Commission, DG Justice, Freedom and Security, Handbook on integration for policy makers and practitioners , November 2004, written by the Migration Policy Group, Brussels. The handbook can be downloaded from the following address:http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/doc_centre/immigration/integration/doc/handbook_en.pdf - Labour Migration Patterns in Europe: Recent Trends, Future Challenges , published in September 2006 in the series Economic Papers and available on the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/economicpapers_en.htm ). ANNEX B OVERVIEW OF WORK CARRIED OUT ON EACH PRIORITY ACTION IN 2006 The following gives details of work carried out on the priority actions during the course of 2006. Its purpose is to give an idea regarding the amount and type of work that has taken place, but is not intended to be comprehensive. I. INCREASING OPERATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN MEMBER STATES The FRONTEX Agency has coordinated several important joint operations to assist southern Member States. These activities have been a first test for the Agency and a show of solidarity with those Member States most affected by high numbers of migrants arriving every day. Among the important operations that have been carried out in the autumn are HERA II in the Canary Islands and off the coast of North-western Africa and NAUTILUS in the central Mediterranean. The purpose of these operations, which have also involved the cooperation of neighbouring African States, has been to enforce the control of the external maritime borders of the European Union, thereby disrupting and preventing illegal immigration by sea, and at the same time contribute to saving the lives of illegal immigrants in distress at sea (search and rescue operations). Moreover, FRONTEX has coordinated the detachment of experts in nationality identification from other Member States to Spain and Malta to assist the authorities of these two Member States in repatriating third country nationals who cannot legally remain in their territories. Two important studies will inform future work. In July FRONTEX completed the feasibility study on a Mediterranean Coastal Patrols Network (MEDSEA). The study calls for the establishment of National Coordination Centres in the Member States, which would, twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, coordinate the activities of the different national authorities involved, in cooperation with the national coordination centres of neighbouring Member States and third countries. FRONTEX is also carrying out the study on the technical feasibility of establishing a surveillance system covering the whole southern maritime borders of the EU and the Mediterranean Sea (BORTEC). This study will comprise an overview of the existing monitoring and surveillance systems in use, their area of coverage and their technical solutions, as well as the needs and wishes for further development with modern technology to cover the entire EU southern maritime borders. It is due to be completed by the end of 2006. The development of Regional Networks of Immigration Liaison Officers (ILOs) has progressed well as part of the overall Migration Routes Initiative. Four key migration routes from Africa to Europe were identified, and the presence of ILOs along these routes was determined. Reports on illegal immigration were drafted by these ILOs, which gave a picture of the situation in their respective countries and operational recommendations for stepping up cooperation along the routes. Meanwhile, Spain, France, Italy and the UK accepted leadership for each of the Regional Networks, and preparatory meetings got underway quickly. The Regional Networks will now work on developing an action plan for each route, consisting of concrete, operational projects that can be implemented to help combat illegal immigration. In July the Commission put forward a proposal for the establishment of Rapid Border Intervention Teams to be managed by FRONTEX. Such teams would be made up of specially trained border guard officers of the national services of Member States who on short notice can be deployed to a requesting Member State to provide technical and operational assistance. All costs associated with the training and deployment of these officers by FRONTEX will according to the proposal be covered by the Community. The proposal is currently being discussed in the Council; quick adoption would mean they could become operational in the foreseeable future. The Commission has also been carrying out an analysis of the law of the sea from the point of view of the fight against illegal immigration. The study examines Member State control powers in the different maritime spaces, as well as third countries' obligations on the basis of international sea law and maritime law and as regards the fight against the smuggling of migrants. The possibility for an institutionalised regional cooperation mechanism along the lines of the one existing amongst the Baltic States is also explored. EU Member States and the Commission played an active role in preparations for the UN High Level Dialogue on international migration and development. An EU Common Position was developed in the Council as a contribution to the Dialogue, supplemented by a Commission Communication. It set out the EU's approach to issues being covered by the Dialogue. The event itself was a success. High-level representatives from around the world joined together for two days to pledge their support for closer cooperation on migration and development issues. Many States expressed their wish to continue the dialogue through a global, informal and voluntary Forum. Belgium has offered to host the Global Forum on migration and development in July 2007. The aim will be to share expertise and best practice and enhance co-operation in the area of migration and development. PART I: INCREASING OPERATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN MEMBER STATES | Call on FRONTEX to: | 1.1.implement border management measures in the Mediterranean region, in particular joint operations and pilot projects, as early as possible in 2006 | Several joint operations and pilot projects were planned and implemented during 2006. The UK negotiated a framework partnership agreement with FRONTEX to allow UK officials to participate in joint operations on a case-by-case basis. Project proposals were also submitted by Member States to the various Community programmes, including ARGO and AENEAS. These included the Spanish projects 'Seahorse', 'Atlantis' and 'Gate to Africa'. | Actions and events: | 25 June-5 July | Operation Poseidon: this project measured the effectiveness of border control on the 'Balkan route'. Joint action was carried out to combat illegal immigration. It took place at various places along the land border between Greece and Turkey, as well as in harbours in Greece and Italy. | 15 July-15 September | Operation AGIOS: a joint operation to tackle forged documents in Spain's Mediterranean ports. Deployment of EU officers started at the beginning of August. The implementation of the AGIOS-Project is closely linked to the ARGO-funded project 'Gate of Africa'. | HERA I: 17 July-31 October HERA II: 11 August to date | Operation HERA: a project that aimed to reduce the flow of migrants from Senegal and Mauritania towards the Canary Islands. The objective was reached by raising the number of repatriations performed (HERA I – Identification and Return), as well as establishing patrols on the open sea near Senegal and Mauritania to reduce the departure of vessels from these shores (HERA II - Patrolling). | 31 July-31 October Second phase is foreseen from mid-November to mid-December | Operation Migration Flow Malta: the main objective of this operation was to tackle the flow of illegal immigrants embarking from Libyan shores, to enhance knowledge and intelligence of the Maltese authorities and to increase the percentage of successfully identified illegal immigrants. | 5 October-15 October | Operation NAUTILUS: the main scope of this joint operation was to patrol the area south of Sicily, Lampedusa and Malta in the Mediterranean Sea to reduce the immigration flows originating mainly from Libya. The involvement of Libya in this project was sought. | 1-22 November | Operation Amazon: so-called Focal Point Offices were established in international airports in Spain, Portugal, UK, France, Italy, Netherlands and Germany, with the objective of preventing illegal immigration. The focus was on Latin American migration routes. | Next steps: | Continue carrying out joint operations | 1.2. Present a Risk Analysis report on Africa, building on recent studies, by May 2006 | FRONTEX shared its analysis report, Brief Assessment of Illegal Immigration Flows and Routes on the African Continent, in May. This report assisted in the identification of the main illegal immigration routes from Africa, and was used to support the work on setting up regional ILO networks. | Actions and events: | Spring | EUROPOL issued a study on the eastern Mediterranean. | April | FRONTEX delivered a tailored Risk Analysis report on Illegal Immigration from Mauritania, identifying recently used illegal immigration routes from Western Africa that transit Mauritania. | 30 May | FRONTEX delivered the Risk Analysis on illegal migration from Africa with special focus on Morocco and Libya and presented the results to its Management Board Meeting in Siofok. | 22-23 May, Casablanca | Interpol meeting on illegal migration in Africa | 7-9 June, Brdo, Slovenia | Joint ICMPD-EUROPOL meeting held within the framework of the Dialogue on Mediterranean Transit Migration (MTM), on the topic 'Migration Flows and Trends in the Mediterranean'. | 13-14 November, Porto | Joint ICMPD-EUROPOL-FRONTEX meeting held within the framework of the Dialogue on MTM, on the topic 'Project Towards Comprehensive Response to Mixed Migration Flows'. | Next steps: | Risk analyses to be used in planning and preparation of further operations. | 1.3. Launch a feasibility study on reinforcing monitoring and surveillance of the southern maritime border of the EU, namely in the Mediterranean Sea, and on a Mediterranean Coastal Patrols Network involving EU Member States and North African countries, as early as possible in 2006 | A support group currently consisting of 14 Member States was set up to undertake the MEDSEA study, which was completed in July. The main recommendation of the study is to establish national coordination centres in all Member States, which should on a 24/7 basis coordinate the activities of Member States and third countries. | Actions and events: | 1 March | A core team of experts from SP, IT, FR and GR started work in FRONTEX. Participating Member States submitted answers to a questionnaire circulated by FRONTEX. | 6 April, Warsaw | First meeting of MEDSEA Support Group. | 10 May, Warsaw | Second meeting of MEDSEA Support Group. | 8 June, Helsinki | Third meeting of MEDSEA Support Group. | 20 June, Warsaw | Fourth meeting of MEDSEA Support Group. | 6 July, Warsaw | Fifth meeting of MEDSEA Support Group. | 24 July | Study presented to the Council and the Commission. | Next steps: | Recommendations of the study to be implemented by Member States as soon as possible, where necessary with support from FRONTEX – timetable and costing to be put together Third countries to be contacted once the EU has a clear view on how it wants to reinforce monitoring and surveillance – sufficient flexibility for modifying the EU approach to be kept to allow for the integration of the wishes and views of third countries | 2. Explore the technical feasibility of establishing a surveillance system covering the whole southern maritime border of the EU and the Mediterranean Sea by the end of 2006. Such a system would use modern technology with the aim of saving lives at sea and tackling illegal immigration | Working arrangements for the 'BORTEC' study were transferred from the Commission to FRONTEX. | Actions and events: | Spring | Expert group established to carry out the study, bringing together both technical and operational people, including those with expertise with the Galileo system. | 5 April | Coordination meeting between Commission and FRONTEX to enable transfer and continuation of the work. | 2 June | Project template approved. | 7 July | First meeting of the Support Group. | Next steps: | Study due in December | 3. Establish regional networks of Immigration Liaison Officers (ILOs) involving priority countries or regions as early as possible in 2006, and present reports on illegal immigration and trafficking, with the assistance where appropriate of ILOs in key countries, by May 2006 | The work to set up regional networks of ILOs has been closely linked to the migration routes initiative and the EU-Africa Ministerial Regional Conference held in Rabat. On the basis of existing data and statistics, four key migration routes from the African continent towards Europe were identified and selected for detailed work. For each of these routes the presence of ILOs in the relevant countries was determined. The ILOs were approached to draft targeted illegal immigration reports and to submit concrete, operational recommendations for stepping up cooperation along the routes. EC Delegations in the relevant third countries identified immigration contact persons who supported the reporting activity. The ICONet system was adapted for specific use by the ILO Networks. In addition, for each key route a lead Member State was identified: SP, FR, IT and UK for regional networks 1 to 4 respectively. Leading Member States were requested to draft a six-month calendar of activities, including start-up regional meetings, with the final objective of developing an operational action plan for each route. | Actions and events: | May-June | Illegal immigration reports drafted by ILOs. | 14 June, Madrid | Joint preparatory meeting for ILO regional networks 1 and 2, organised by SP and FR. | 6 July, Las Palmas de Gran Canarias | Joint start up meeting for ILO regional networks 1 and 2 organised by SP and FR, bringing together ILOs along both routes. | 6 October, London | Joint preparatory meeting for ILO regional networks 3 and 4 organised by IT and UK. | 14-15 November, Rome | Joint start up meeting for ILO regional networks 3 and 4, bringing together ILOs along both routes. | Next steps: | Local meetings of ILO regional networks to be held regularly Operational action plans to be drafted | 4. Bring forward a proposal for the creation of rapid reaction teams made up of national experts able to provide rapid technical and operational assistance at times of high influxes of migrants, in accordance with the Hague Programme, by Spring 2006 | In July the Commission put forward a proposal for the establishment of Rapid Border Intervention Teams to be managed by FRONTEX. Such teams would be made up of specially trained border guard officers of the national services of Member States who on short notice can be deployed to a requesting Member State to provide technical and operational assistance. All costs associated with the training and deployment of these officers by FRONTEX will, according to the proposal, be covered by the Community. | Actions and events: | April | Study on legal competences of border guards completed. | 19 July | Proposal for a Regulation on the setting up of a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RABITs) submitted by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. | Next steps: | Council discussion of proposal, followed by adoption of the Regulation Continued work by Commission on a proposal for expert intervention teams in the asylum context | 5. Ensure a substantial follow-up to the report of the Global Commission on International Migration, and prepare for the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development that will be launched in September 2006 | Several preparatory events were organised in the lead-up to the HLD, and the Commission and Member States took an active part in all of them. A Commission Memorandum on EU policies, a Communication and an EU Common Position were all submitted as contributions to the preparations. The HLD itself was a success. High-level representatives from around the world committed to closer co-operation on migration and development issues and agreed to continue dialogue through a global forum. | Actions and events: | 4-7 April, New York | 39th Session of the Commission on Population and Development. | May | Commission Memorandum on EU policies sent to the UN Secretary-General by President Barroso. | 12 June, Brussels | BE organised a seminar to discuss follow up to the HLD. | 28-30 June, Turin | International Symposium on Migration and Development organised by DESA – Commission organised a session on EU policies on migration and development, including as a speaker a representative from the ACP Secretariat. | 14 July | Commission Communication issued. | 17 July, Brussels | EU Common Position adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council. | 14-15 September, New York | UN High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. | Next steps: | Participation in and support to the Global forum to be hosted by BE in July 2007 | 6. Present an analysis of the existing international instruments on the law of the sea, including relevant aspects of refugee law, by March 2006 | The Commission has been carrying out this study with a particular focus on the Mediterranean. The study is essentially a gaps analysis identifying the issues that could be further explored. It is due to be published shortly. | Actions and events: | 23-24 May, Madrid | Meeting on Rescue at Sea and Maritime Interception in the Mediterranean, organised by UNHCR, attended by maritime and immigration representatives of almost all states bordering the Mediterranean, as well as other interested countries. The meeting illustrated the need for a concerted and complementary approach that involves all state actors, not only those engaged in rescue at sea and interception activities. Three specific recommendations to come out of the meeting were: discussion on issues including rescue at sea, interception and disembarkation needs to continue; IMO Member States have a collective responsibility to comply with the SAR and SOLAS Conventions and the IMO guidelines; and with improved data collection and strengthened cooperation, states can continue to draw lessons from good practices identified elsewhere and seek to benefit from the complementary roles that may be played by IGOs in the area of reception, screening and assistance in finding solutions for the various categories of people. | Next steps: | Commission to present report Discussion of the analysis, and development of an EU common position on the open legal questions | II. DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION WITH AFRICA This first year has very much been a year of agenda-setting. With the recognition of the necessity to work in partnership with African and Mediterranean countries and to address the needs and concerns of all concerned, 2006 has acted as a preparatory year, paving the way for engagement with African states on the range of migration issues. The amount of agenda space given to migration in regional fora this year has to some extent been surprising. An EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development was held in Tripoli on 22-23 November, which adopted a Joint Declaration. This was a highly significant event, with the EU and the whole of Africa coming together for the first time to make a political commitment to working together on migration. Similarly, other regional bodies gave their attention to migration – the ACP states held their first meeting of ministers responsible for asylum and migration, which resulted in a declaration and plan of action; migration was discussed and featured prominently in the conclusions of the EU-ECOWAS Troika; and for the first time migration was on the agenda as a discussion point at the ACP-EU Council. The ministerial conference held in Rabat in July was a successful and important event. A joint initiative between Morocco, Spain and France and co-financed by the Commission, the conference brought together West, Central and North African states with EU Member States to discuss common responses to migratory flows along the West African route. States committed themselves to developing a close partnership "to work together, in the framework of a global, balanced, pragmatic and operational approach, with respect for the fundamental rights and dignity of migrants and refugees, on the phenomenon of migratory routes". The conference agreed that this framework must involve countries of origin, transit and destination, and that central to this partnership is the fight against poverty and the promotion of sustainable development in African states. It will now be important to implement initiatives contained in the Action Plan, so as "to respond to the urgency of the situation and give visibility and credibility to the new dynamic brought about by the conference". The Rabat Declaration called for a second, follow up ministerial conference in two years' time at the latest. Dialogue on the basis of article 13 of the Cotonou Agreement has been initiated with certain key Sub-Saharan African states. Meetings with the authorities in Mauritania, Senegal and Mali were extremely positive and productive, and discussion on migration now continues as part of the political dialogue led by Heads of Missions. Linked to this, migration is currently being incorporated into the programming exercise for the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). Where relevant, every Country Strategy Paper for ACP countries should contain a migration profile, and discussions between delegations, Member States and the third countries concerned should result in the identification of priorities for the funding of migration-related activities and projects for the next five years. Given the importance of assisting developing countries in managing migration, an intra-ACP migration facility of €25 million has been developed and programming work is underway. It will focus in particular on the management of south-south migration. Mention should also be made of other ongoing work on the migration and development agenda. In March Belgium and the IOM, with the support of the World Bank and the Commission, organised a conference on migration and development. It successfully brought together high level representatives from across continents, to discuss achieving greater coherence between migration and development policies, forming partnerships among countries of origin, transit and destination, and involving migrant communities in the development of their home countries. In June the Commission hosted an expert meeting on migration and development. This was a good opportunity to share experiences and information on current projects, in particular regarding the four main topics: remittances, working with the diaspora, temporary and circular migration and brain drain. Participants agreed on the need to share information better and improve coordination in this field. Of course, this agenda links in with the UN High Level Dialogue, and it also needs to be reflected in EU assistance to interested countries in Africa. With much of the political agenda-setting now in place, it will be important to move quickly to implement the commitments taken between Africa and the EU in the course of 2007 and beyond. PART II: DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION WITH AFRICA | 7. Work to make migration a shared priority for political dialogue between the EU and the African Union, including through regular senior officials' meetings to prepare for EU-Africa Ministerial Troika discussions | Migration has featured prominently on the agenda of the AU and joint meetings between the AU and EU this year, with senior officials' meetings to prepare them as appropriate. Dialogue culminated in an EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development in Tripoli in November 2006. | Actions and events: | 1 March, Addis Ababa | AU Commission and EU Commission Task Force – included discussion of the possibilities for a dialogue on migration. | 3-5 April, Algiers | AU expert meeting – defined a draft common position on migration and development. | 8 May, Vienna | EU-Africa Ministerial Troika, preceded by a senior officials' meeting – discussion included the EU-pan African conference on migration | 1-2 July, Banjul | AU common position on migration and development formally adopted at AU Summit. | 11-12 September, Brussels | EU-AU Commissions Joint Task Force – discussion focused on exchange of information and preparation of the Tripoli conference. | 2 October, Addis Ababa | Commission to Commission meeting involving many Commissioners from both sides – migration was high on the agenda and the principle of the Tripoli conference was endorsed. | 9 October, Brazzaville | EU-Africa Ministerial Troika – concluded that the ministerial conference on migration and development will take place in Tripoli on 22-23 November. | 22-23 November, Libya | EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development – joint declaration adopted. Preparations took place in the High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration; an extended Troika meeting hosted by Malta; and a senior official's meeting held in Tripoli on 21 November. | Next steps: | Follow-up to the Joint Declaration of the ministerial conference | 8. Work in partnership with African countries and regional organisations, such as ECOWAS, through a range of fora, initiatives and regional meetings, including an EU-Africa Ministerial Conference in Morocco in 2006 and a conference on migration and development in Brussels in March 2006 | Some successful high profile events have acted to keep migration firmly on the international agenda this year and the subject of much political debate. | Actions and events: | 6-8 February, Kenya | IOM workshop on 'International Travel Documents and Issuance Systems: Technical review of standards and systems for East and Central African Governments, and participating West African Governments. | 15-16 March, Brussels | Migration and Development Conference organised by BE and IOM, with the support of the World Bank and the Commission | 4-6 April, Brussels | African-European Inter-regional Dialogue on Managing Labour Migration for Integration and Development, organised by ILO with financial support from the EU. | 13 April, Brussels | First meeting of ACP Ministers in charge of Asylum, Migration and Mobility – declaration and plan of action adopted. | 22-23 May, Vienna | EU-ECOWAS Troika – migration was on the agenda and figured prominently in the conclusions; agreement to set up a joint working group on migration. | 6 June, Lisbon | IOM seminar on "Migration and development within the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community – engaging diasporas as agents for development". | 6 June, Papua New Guinea | ACP-EU Council – migration was on the agenda as a 'C' point (discussion) for the first time | 28-29 June, Niamey | Technical seminar, funded by the AENEAS 2004 Across Sahara project – focused on the situation in Libya and Niger concerning a range of issues such as illegal immigration, transit migration, visas, to readmission and return, asylum and statistics, and included an analysis report drawn up on the basis of questionnaire replies from the Nigerian and Libyan authorities | 10-11 July, Rabat | Euro-Africa ministerial conference on migration and development – declaration and action plan adopted, with the commitment to hold a next ministerial within two years to assess progress. Preparation took place in steering committee meetings, senior officials' meetings (including one hosted by Senegal), and in the High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration with the participation of the Ambassador of Morocco. | 26-27 October, Niamey | EU-ECOWAS Troika – migration was once again high on the agenda and in the conclusions. | Next steps: | Ongoing follow-up and implementation of initiatives contained in the Rabat action plan Develop East Africa migration route initiative Rapidly set up EU-ECOWAS joint working group on migration and initiate its work | 9. Explore the feasibility of a migration routes initiative for operational cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination, with a view to developing a concrete initiative in 2006 | Development of the migration route concept has made good headway, with several steps being taken to bring together countries of origin, transit and destination along the same migratory route. Four key migration routes on the African continent towards Europe were identified, as set out in action 3 above. Other related initiatives include a General Action Plan prepared by EUROPOL concerning cooperation with third countries for the purposes of Police Chiefs Task Force; and a pilot project proposal submitted by BE to Morocco on return and reintegration of Malians, as well as a regional initiative to help Mali dismantle smuggling networks. | Actions and events: | 10-11 July, Rabat | Euro-Africa ministerial conference on migration and development, which aimed at identifying operational action along the West Africa migration routes. | 7-10 November, Las Palmas | SP hosted a police conference in the framework of the Seahorse project, which was attended by Member States, FRONTEX and EUROPOL. | July | UK presented proposals for an East Africa Migration Routes Initiative to the High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration. This includes a stock-take of Member States' activities in the region; an analysis of the gaps in relevant transit countries and the requirements; and the ILO regional network developments with Italy. | Next steps: | A global approach action plan for each of the routes will be developed, using a variety of sources including the ILO reports | 10. Enhance dialogue by spring 2006 with key sub-Saharan African states on the basis of Article 13 of the Cotonou Agreement, covering a broad range of issues from institution and capacity building and effective integration of legal migrants to return and the effective implementation of readmission obligations, in order to establish a mutually beneficial cooperation in this field | The Commission proposed launching bilateral dialogue on migration on the basis of article 13 of the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritania and Niger. This has so far proceeded with Mauritania, Senegal and Mali. Three other countries had to be removed from the list due to varying political circumstances. Seven Member States proposed adding Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia to this initial list of countries; BE proposed adding Guinea (Conakry) and Rwanda; and DE proposed adding Burkina Faso. At the same time migration is being integrated into the Country Strategy Papers for ACP countries, as part of the programming exercise for the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). Once drafted by Delegations and ACP countries, with the participation of Member States, they will be formally adopted by the EDF-Committee. | Actions and events: | January | Commission delegations in selected countries were contacted to explore the possibilities of article 13 Cotonou dialogue. | April-June | Technical mission Mauritania in the framework of the Rapid Reaction Mechanism; the final decision on financial support was taken in June to a total of 2.45 million euro. | 5-6 June, Dakar | Informal contacts were made with several African countries in the margins of the meeting in Dakar that prepared the Rabat Ministerial Conference on migration and development. | 23-25 May | Commission mission to Mauritania and Senegal to initiate article 13 dialogue, so that it can continue at Head of Mission level in the context of the regular political dialogue (article 8 Cotonou). | 25-28 September | Commission mission to Mali in context of article 13. | September-November | Technical mission to Senegal in the framework of the Rapid Reaction Mechanism; the financial decision will be taken shortly. | 18-20 October, Brussels | Training workshop for EC delegations on migration in EC external assistance. | Next steps: | Heads of Mission in Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia to assess the feasibility of launching dialogue with these countries Article 13 dialogue to be initiated with further key countries, with regular reporting back to Member States, and to be actively continued with all relevant countries | 11. Establish and implement a pilot Regional Protection Programme (RPP) involving Tanzania as early as possible in 2006, with a steering group to oversee the programme. Based on findings from the pilot, develop plans for further programmes in Africa | Following the Council Conclusions on Regional Protection Programmes in November 2005, several proposals for projects to initiate the pilot RPPs were submitted under the 2005 AENEAS call for proposals. One of these was submitted by UNHCR and focused specifically on Tanzania and the surrounding region. The proposal was selected by the AENEAS Management Committee, and is expected to get underway in 2007. The project will include strengthening the capacity of national authorities to protect refugees, improving security in refugee camps, promoting voluntary return of Burundian refugees, enhancing access to resettlement, and registration of refugees. | Actions and events: | 14 February, Brussels | Expert meeting with Member States convened by the Commission. | July | AENEAS project proposal for Tanzania accepted. | Next steps: | Initiate projects as soon as contracts signed Initiate UNHCR-run project for North Africa Develop further protection-oriented projects with UNHCR | 12. Carry out a study to improve understanding of the root causes of migration to underpin the long-term approach | The Joint Research Centre is currently carrying out a case study focusing on Senegal and Mali. It will analyse the root causes of migration in these two countries and their policy implications. | Actions and events: | July | Drafting commenced and Member States were invited to provide information on existing studies on root causes. | Next steps: | Study expected in November 2006 Study should be discussed and used as part of the long-term EU approach | 13. Develop regular dialogue with UNHCR as early as possible in 2006, to share experience and expertise on working with countries in Africa | Dialogue with UNHCR on the implementation continued via regular meetings. | Next steps: | A high-level meeting will be organised between the Commission and UNHCR in early January in order to operationalise the UNHCR 10-Point Plan of Action presented at the Rabat conference; the feasibility of holding such meetings regularly to update on the situation in different countries will be examined | 14. Launch initiatives in early 2006 to promote cheaper and more easily available remittance services, and support ongoing efforts by international organisations to improve data on remittance flows; consider supporting efforts of African states to facilitate members of diasporas to contribute to their home countries, including through co-development actions, and explore options to mitigate the impact of skill losses in vulnerable sectors | This wide agenda was the subject of much discussion during the year. An expert meeting organised by the Commission in June was a useful opportunity to share experiences and best practice, while productive discussion took place in the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development in New York and the Africa-EU Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development in Libya. | Actions and events: | 15-16 March, Brussels | Migration and Development Conference organised by BE and IOM, with the support of the World Bank and the Commission. | 20 June, Brussels | Member State expert meeting on the main subjects covered by the September 2005 Migration and Development Communication convened by the Commission. | 10-11 July, Rabat | Euro-Africa ministerial conference on migration and development. | 14-15 September, New York | UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development. | 13-14 November, London | UK-World Bank Conference on Remittances – UK also made available its publication on the UK remittances market. | 22-23 November, Tripoli | EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development | Next steps: | Establish 'virtual' working groups on each of the main topics on the migration and development agenda, involving Member States, international organisations, Commission services and other experts as appropriate Support projects on migration and development in interested African countries as part of EU financial assistance under the EDF, the MEDA programme, Aeneas or the future thematic programme on migration | 15. Establish information campaigns targeting potential migrants to highlight the risks associated with illegal migration and raise awareness about legal channels for migration | IOM carried out information campaign work with Senegal during the summer. Portugal has also organised information campaigns in embarkation/disembarkation bulletins disseminated at airports of origin and destination and travel agencies, with information concerning the requirements for legal entry in Portugal and raising awareness of the risks of illegal migration and networks of trafficking in human beings. | III. WORK WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES Although progress in the EuroMed framework has not developed as quickly as was hoped, important and productive senior officials' meetings were held in June and October. These renewed motivation and optimism for furthering cooperation on migration, which has been given concrete expression through the preparation of a working document detailing projects and best practices of each of the EuroMed partners relating to legal migration, migration and development and the fight against illegal migration, and a more detailed action programme with recommendations for future cooperation. Portugal has also offered to host a EuroMed Ministerial meeting on migration in 2007. Meanwhile, work with individual North African countries has made good headway. The dialogue and cooperation with Morocco has intensified and the EU has decided to grant political and considerable financial support to Morocco (up to €90 million) to assist this country in its efforts to better manage migration. A major step forward was taken with a twinning project on the fight against illegal migration, as well as budgetary support for purchasing border control equipment. Negotiations on an EC Readmission agreement have also continued, and are expected to be launched with Algeria soon. An important programme of support (€10 million) to the Algerian border police, approved in 2005, is ongoing. Discussions with Libya on issues concerning migration have also continued and Libya has invited a team of EU experts to carry out a mission to its southern borders. All in all, cooperation with the Mediterranean countries is set to develop strongly in the future, on the basis of the relevant Association Agreements and Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans. PART III: WORK WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES | 16. Hold a EuroMed Ministerial meeting on migration in 2006 | At a positive senior officials' meeting, it was agreed to collect information on projects and best practice in areas identified by the Barcelona Summit in November 2005: legal migration, migration and development and illegal migration, trafficking and return issues. With contributions from all 35 delegations, the Commission undertook to prepare a background document with all the information provided, as well as a more detailed action programme containing recommendations for future cooperation. | Actions and events: | 20 June, Brussels | Senior officials' meeting to discuss further cooperation and to prepare the Ministerial meeting. | 20 October, Brussels | Second senior officials' meeting, which discussed the draft action programme. | Next steps: | Continue developing ideas for concrete joint projects Continue preparations for the EuroMed Ministerial, planned to take place during the Portuguese Presidency in 2007 | 17. Engage Mediterranean third countries in the feasibility study of a Mediterranean Coastal Patrols Network, Mediterranean surveillance system and related pilot projects, where appropriate | See priority action 1.3. | 18. Make available experiences and best practices where appropriate from other regional cooperation structures, including those relating to the Baltic Sea | 9 June, Helsinki | Finland hosted a Member State expert visit to the Helsinki Headquarters of the Border Guards to assess the Baltic experience in dealing with Border security management, comprising technical means, legal framework, regional cooperation and operational activities | 19. Use all available frameworks for cooperation with Mediterranean partners, including those mentioned below, to prevent and combat illegal migration and trafficking in human beings, build capacity to better manage migration, and explore how best to share information on legal migration and labour market opportunities, for example through the development of migration profiles and through strengthening sub-regional fora | The possibilities of implementing the priority actions in the framework of the 5+5 cooperation were explored in the 5+5 group under the Chair of France and then Spain. For example, France, Spain and Morocco are working on a joint project that aims to promote the institutional capacity between these countries on labour migration, so as to connect labour demand and offer between them. The project started in December 2005 and will finish in November 2008. Meanwhile, the concept of the Migration Profile has been developed. The IOM and the JRC both drafted initial proposals for how the tool could work. The idea was then formally presented at the UN High Level Dialogue in New York on 14-15 September. Funding has been earmarked in the AENEAS 2006 call for proposals to further develop Migration Profiles for key countries. | Actions and events: | 12 May, Nice | 5+5 Interior Ministers – Commission was invited to take part in the lunch. | 29-30 June, Paris | Follow-up meeting to the ministerial conference on migration held in Paris in November 2005, with discussion including migration and development, labour migration and reception and integration of migrants. | Next steps: | Continue using all relevant fora to further work on the Global Approach Continue developing the Migration Profile concept, in particular using AENEAS funding | 20. Undertake priority work with the following three countries: | 20.1 Morocco – implement projects to combat trafficking and conclude negotiations of the EC-Morocco readmission agreement as early as possible | Implementation of various projects using MEDA and AENEAS funding has been promoted, and negotiations on an EC Readmission agreement have continued. Morocco was also host of the Euro-Africa ministerial conference on migration and development, held in Rabat in July. | Actions and events: | 18 May | EU-Morocco subcommittee on JHA. | 10-11 July, Rabat | Euro-Africa ministerial conference on migration and development. | 22 November, Rabat | Meeting of the EU-Morocco subcommittee on migration and social affairs and readmission discussions. | November, Rabat | EU-Morocco Working Group on migration and social affairs. | Next steps: | Continuation of the negotiations on an EC Readmission agreement Effective implementation of cooperation projects and continued dialogue on migration-related issues | 20.2 Algeria – hold a first meeting in early 2006 to take forward cooperation on the basis of the migration provisions of the EC-Algeria Association Agreement and begin the negotiation of the readmission agreement as quickly as possible on the basis of the mandate given to the Commission | Algeria hosted an AU expert meeting on migration and development in April. Negotiations on the EC readmission agreement are expected to be launched in early 2007. | Actions and events: | 16 May | First EU-Algeria Association Council meeting. | Next steps: | First meeting of the EU-Algeria subcommittee on migration and social affairs, 5-6 December, Algiers Effective start of negotiations on an EU-Algeria readmission agreement Effective dialogue on migration-related issues | 20.3 Libya – conclude the work to agree the EU-Libya Action Plan on migration as early as possible in 2006, in accordance with the Council Conclusions of 3 June 2005 on initiating dialogue and cooperation with Libya on migration issues, and implement projects as soon as possible thereafter | The Commission has been doing its utmost to work bilaterally with Libya in addressing the issue of illegal migration, and there have been various missions to discuss cooperation. Libya hosted the EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development in November. The AENEAS-funded IOM Programme for the Enhancement of Transit and Irregular Migration Management in Libya (TRIM) has continued. | Actions and events: | February | Commission visited Tripoli and presented proposals for concrete cooperation and dialogue on migration issues to the Libyan side | 21-22 May | Commission visited Tripoli. Libya confirmed interest in developing dialogue and cooperation with the EU, although not in the framework of the Barcelona process. | May | Response received from Libya, expressing willingness to host the AU-EU conference and inviting an expert mission to the southern border | 4-6 July | Commission visited Libya to discuss enhanced cooperation in several areas including migration | Next steps: | Organise expert mission to Libya's southern borders as a matter of priority Explore possibilities for developing an EU-Libya joint risk analysis Examine the possibility of establishing direct contacts between FRONTEX and Libya to explore areas for joint cooperation, for instance in carrying out joint risks assessment and joint patrolling | 21. Intensify research to improve understanding and management of migratory flows, building on the migration component of the regional JHA I MEDA programme | Activities launched by the Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration in the Mediterranean region (CARIM), hosted by the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, were continued throughout the year. | Actions and events: | May | Financed by AENEAS 2004, a new website, Migration de retour vers le Maghreb (MIREM), was opened at http://www.mirem.eu. It is hosted by the European University Institute as part of CARIM. The MIREM project aims to examine the current challenges linked to return migration and its impact on development in Maghreb countries. The website includes data and information on the premises and implications of the EU common return policy; patterns of cooperation on readmission and their challenges; and the bilateral agreements linked to readmission involving the Maghreb countries and EU Member States. There is also an annotated inventory of the statistical data on return migration to the Maghreb countries, including various typologies of returnees, and studies related to the return mechanisms that have been implemented in the Maghreb. | 20 June, Brussels | Commission's proposals for JHA MEDA II were presented to the EuroMed partners at the senior officials' meeting on migration. | Next steps: | CARIM will continue its research on migration in the Maghreb region Inspired by the success of the academic network (CARIM) linking migration research institutes of all the Mediterranean countries and funded by the MEDA programme, the EU should facilitate an academic conference in view of the establishment of a pan-African network of migration 'observatories' and/or migration research institutes | 22. Help strengthen links between North and sub-Saharan African countries in the framework of the possible migration routes initiative | See priority action 9. | 23. Continue dialogue and cooperation with UNHCR in helping third countries develop capacity for refugee protection | The Commission has financed a UNHCR project aimed at building asylum capacity in North Africa. The results of the project have been just transmitted to the Commission. In order to ensure continuity and build on this first experience, the Commission intends to finance under AENEAS 2006 another UNHCR project for protection actions in all the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, from Morocco to Syria. | 24. Hold a conference on The role of internal security in relations between the EU and its neighbours in Vienna in May 2006 | Following adoption by the Council of the Strategy for the External Dimension of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice in December 2005, the Vienna Ministerial Conference was held on 4-5 May. The 'Vienna Declaration on Security Partnership' was adopted, and then welcomed by the European Council of 15-16 June. | Actions and events: | 4-5 May, Vienna | Conference took place. | Next steps: | The Commission will continue to monitor progress of the Strategy and will report to the Council every 18 months | Annex C FINANCING In the context of its December 2005 Conclusions on priority actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean, the European Council welcomed the increased priority being given to migration and the Commission’s intention to intensify its financial assistance in areas concerning or related to migration in respect of its relations with third countries, including by an allocation of up to 3% of the ENPI, and comparable efforts in respect of other relevant financial instruments. It also called for equivalent efforts in particular in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to tackling the root causes of migration. As stated in section 4.1. of this Communication, funding will be channelled through the geographic programmes established under the relevant external assistance instruments and the Thematic programme on migration and asylum. As regards the European neighbourhood countries, the 3% commitment represents an amount of about €50 million a year, of which €30 million will be brought by the ENPI contribution to the Thematic programme on migration and asylum. The remaining part will be financed under the national, regional and cross-border geographic programmes established within the ENPI. In addition to the initiatives on migration and asylum financed under the geographic programmes of the DCI, the DCI will contribute for about €25 million a year to the Thematic programme on migration and asylum, for funding projects in developing countries located outside of the European Neighbourhood. As regards the ACP countries, and within the framework of the 9th EDF, an overall €40 million has been set aside for the EU Programme on Migration and Development in Africa, including the €25 million intra-ACP migration facility, whose specific destination is currently in an identification phase. Concerning the 10th EDF, which covers the period 2008-13, migration is being fully incorporated into the programming of Country and Regional Strategy Papers. Through the EU Governance Initiative and its 'incentive tranche', ACP countries will be able to obtain substantial additional financial support to develop and implement governance reforms. Access to these 10th EDF incentive resources will depend on the outcome of a dialogue between the Commission and the partner country on the past performance and future commitments in the area of governance, including on migration. Finally, it should not be overlooked that further to the geographic programmes and to the thematic programme on asylum and migration, , other thematic programmes / instruments such as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the Thematic programme for cooperation with non-state actors and local authorities or the Thematic programme "investing in people" can also occasionally provide funds on specific migration relevant issues such as trafficking in human beings or on aspects of the migration and development debate. The new Structural Funds' regulations make possible that in the context of cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation, the ERDF may finance expenditure incurred in implementing operations or parts of operations on the territory of countries outside the European Community (up to a limit of 10% of the amount of its contribution to the operational programme concerned). [1] Viited kõigile osutatud dokumentidele on loetletud lisas A. [2] Vt rände- ja arenguteatise 8. lisa. [3] Vt teatis Euroopa naabruspoliitika tugevdamise kohta KOM (2006) 726 lõplik