52006DC0735

[pic] | KOMISIJA EVROPSKIH SKUPNOSTI |

Bruselj, 30.11.2006

COM(2006) 735 konč.

SPOROČILO KOMISIJE SVETU IN EVROPSKEMU PARLAMENTU

Globalni pristop k vprašanju migracij leto pozneje: za celovito evropsko migracijsko politiko

Globalni pristop k vprašanju migracij leto pozneje: za celovito evropsko migracijsko politiko

1. REšEVANJE IZZIVOV, KI JIH PRINAšA MIGRACIJA

Voditelji držav in vlad so oktobra 2005 obravnavali vprašanje migracij kot enega poglavitnih izzivov globalizacije in priznali, da je pospešeno ukrepanje nujno potrebno. EU se je bila sposobna hitro odzvati. Komisija je v enem mesecu pripravila načrt za celovit akcijski program z naslovom Prednostni ukrepi za reševanje izzivov, ki jih prinaša migracija: prvi nadaljnji ukrepi po Hampton Courtu [1]. To sporočilo je vsebovalo predloge za vrsto konkretnih ukrepov, ki so del celovitega pristopa k vprašanju migracij in temelj nadaljnjih razprav Evropskega sveta o Afriki in sredozemski regiji.

Evropski svet je decembra 2005 sprejel Globalni pristop k vprašanju migracij: prednostni ukrepi v zvezi z Afriko in Sredozemljem. Globalni pristop vključuje oblikovanje skladnih politik in ukrepov na področju migracij ter hkrati obravnava celo vrsto migracijskih vprašanj in med seboj povezuje različna pomembna področja politike, kot so zunanji odnosi, razvoj, zaposlovanje ter pravosodje, svoboda in varnost. Ta pristop kaže na vidno in dejavno solidarnost, ki je odvisna od delitve odgovornosti med državami članicami in tretjimi državami.

Pojav migracije je značilen za vsa zgodovinska obdobja. Na svetovni ravni današnje število migrantov glede na svetovno prebivalstvo ni višje od števila v drugih zgodovinskih obdobjih. Vendar pa postaja migracija za Evropo vse pomembnejša. Evropa se je v nekaj desetletjih razvila iz območja emigracije v enega največjih namembnih krajev priseljevanja. V letu 2004 so po podatkih Organizacije za gospodarsko sodelovanje in razvoj (OECD) ter Eurostata med najpomembnejše migracijske tokove iz tretjih držav v Evropsko unijo spadale Romunija, Maroko, Bolgarija, Turčija, Ukrajina in Ruska federacija. Tokovi priseljevanja so postali bolj raznoliki, narašča pa število priseljencev iz novih držav izvora Srednje in Vzhodne Evrope, Azije (zlasti Kitajske) ter Srednje in Latinske Amerike (zlasti Ekvadorja). Migracija iz Afrike se je v zadnjih mesecih znatno povečala. Ta razvoj se v bližnji prihodnosti verjetno ne bo ustavil, migracijski pritiski pa lahko narastejo. EU bo potrebovala tudi migrante, da bo ob upoštevanju demografskega razvoja zagotavljala trajnost svojih trgov dela. EU mora tekmovati z drugimi regijami v svetu in da bi to dosegla, potrebuje ustrezno usposobljene migrante.

To sporočilo ima dva cilja. V prvi vrsti odgovarja Evropskemu svetu, ki Komisijo poziva, naj do konca leta 2006 predloži poročilo o napredku, doseženem na področju izvajanja prve faze globalnega pristopa in prednostnih ukrepov, ki se osredotočajo na Afriko in Sredozemlje . V drugi vrsti pa predlaga načine za vzpostavitev res celostnega pristopa Evropske unije . To sporočilo je odgovor na pozive k okrepitvi prizadevanj, ki so jih 21. septembra izrazili ministri za pravosodje in notranje zadeve v Tampereju ter 20. oktobra voditelji držav in vlad v Lahtiju. Zato predlaga, da se vključijo druga področja politike, ki niso bila zajeta v globalnem pristopu, sprejetem decembra 2005, kot so ukrepi na področju zakonitih migracij in vključevanja. Na ta način bo partnerstvo s tretjimi državami obravnavalo celo vrsto vprašanj, ki zanimajo in skrbijo vse udeležence.

Glede na nujno potrebo po okrepitvi migracijskih politik EU in z njimi povezanih področij je v tem okviru učinkovitost postopkov odločanja , tudi na področju zakonitih migracij, nujno potrebna, saj bi Uniji omogočila, da se odzove na pričakovanja državljanov na tem področju. Za trenutne pomanjkljivosti postopkov odločanja Pogodba o Ustavi za Evropo ponuja ustrezno rešitev, in sicer tako, da se za zakonite migracije uporabijo pravila za glasovanje s kvalificirano večino in redni zakonodajni postopek (soodločanje). V sedanjih okoliščinah bi klavzula prehodnega obdobja iz člena 67 PES zagotavljala pomembno orodje za dosego tega cilja, hkrati pa skušala najti celovito rešitev institucionalnih vprašanj v okviru, vzpostavljenem na Evropskem svetu junija 2006, zato je to klavzulo treba uporabiti.

V prizadevanju, da bi še bolj okrepila celovito migracijsko politiko EU, je Komisija ustanovila skupino komisarjev na področju migracij. V številnih državah članicah je mogoče zaznati podobno težnjo k povezovanju različnih, četudi med seboj povezanih področij politike, ki jo je treba pozdraviti in po potrebi spodbujati.

Čeprav se to sporočilo osredotoča na Afriko in sredozemsko regijo, je treba celovitost pristopa v prihodnosti uresničiti tudi z geografskega vidika . Resno je treba razmisliti o uporabi pristopa za druge regije, zlasti tiste, ki se nahajajo na vzhodnih in jugovzhodnih zunanjih mejah EU, ob upoštevanju izzivov, ki jih prinašajo te migracijske poti. Čeprav ne spadata med kratkoročne prednostne naloge, je treba poleg tega upoštevati naraščajoči pomen migracijskih vprašanj v okviru naših odnosov z azijskimi in latinskoameriškimi državami ter vedno večja pričakovanja teh držav na področju sodelovanja z EU. Poleg tega je nedavni ibero-ameriški vrh pozval k okrepitvi dialoga in sodelovanja na področju migracij ter k temu, da se kompromis o migraciji in razvoju iz Montevidea uresniči v okviru nacionalnih politik, podregionalnih forumov in mednarodnih sporazumov. Dejansko bi se lahko številni ukrepi in politike, opisani v poglavju 3, na podoben način uporabili za naše sodelovanje in dialog z Latinsko Ameriko in Azijo.

2. IZVAJANJE GLOBALNEGA PRISTOPA: DOSEžKI V AFRIKI IN SREDOZEMSKI REGIJI V PRVEM LETU

Leto 2006 je namenjeno določitvi delovnega programa z Afriko. Julija letos je v Rabatu potekala ministrska konferenca o migraciji in razvoju, na kateri je sodelovalo okoli 60 držav, ki se nahajajo vzdolž migracijskih poti zahodne in srednje Afrike. Afriške države in države EU so se septembra udeležile dialoga na visoki ravni ZN o migraciji in razvoju. Tudi v Libiji je bila novembra organizirana ministrska konferenca EU-Afrika o migraciji in razvoju, da bi se prvič oblikoval skupni pristop EU in celotne Afrike k vprašanju migracij. Vprašanje migracij je pogosta točka dnevnega reda v okviru programov za dialog in sodelovanje s sredozemskimi državami, ki temeljijo na obsežnem delu, že izvedenem v okviru ESP, s forumom EuroMed pa se spodbuja izmenjava najboljših praks in deluje v smislu skupnega programa dejavnosti. To področje se je uvrstilo tudi na dnevni red srečanj na visoki ravni z Afriško unijo in regionalnimi organizacijami. Na podlagi člena 13 Kotonovskega sporazuma se je s poglavitnimi državami podsaharske Afrike začel dialog o migracijskih vprašanjih. Mehanizem za hitro ukrepanje se je uporabil za pomoč Mavretaniji in Senegalu pri njunih prizadevanjih za obvladovanje nezakonitih migracij.

V manj kot dvanajstih mesecih so se dejansko začela dela v zvezi z vsemi prednostnimi ukrepi. Do konca leta bo agencija FRONTEX začela in uskladila več skupnih pomorskih dejavnosti v atlantskih in sredozemskih regijah, izdelala analize tveganja o Afriki ter predstavila študije izvedljivosti o vzpostavitvi mreže za varovanje sredozemske obale in nadzornega sistema, ki bi v celoti pokril južno morsko mejo EU in Sredozemsko morje. Regionalne mreže uradnikov za zvezo za priseljevanje se vzpostavljajo vzdolž poglavitnih migracijskih poti po Afriki. Komisija je objavila predlog za vzpostavitev skupin za hitro posredovanje na mejah in izvedla analizo mednarodnega pomorskega prava.

Podrobnejše poročilo o izvajanju globalnega pristopa je na voljo v Prilogi B .

3. POVEčANJE SKLADNOSTI: CELOVITA EVROPSKA MIGRACIJSKA POLITIKA

Celovit pristop je treba trdno zasnovati na treh načelih: solidarnosti med državami članicami, partnerstvu s tretjimi državami in zaščiti migrantov, zlasti ranljivih skupin, kot so mladoletniki brez spremstva in ženske. V naslednjih treh poglavjih so predlagani načini za oblikovanje tega pristopa z Afriko, pa tudi z drugimi partnerji.

3.1. Krepitev dialoga in sodelovanja z afriškimi državami izvora in tranzita

3.1.1. Dialog z afriškimi državami

Splošni okvir sodelovanja EU z Afriko je določen v strategiji EU za Afriko , ki je bila sprejeta na Evropskem svetu 15.–16. decembra 2005. Poglavitna cilja te strategije sta doseganje razvojnih ciljev novega tisočletja in spodbujanje trajnostnega razvoja, varnosti in odgovornega vodenja v Afriki. Prihodnje delo na področju migracij mora biti v skladu s to strategijo, zlasti v okviru odpravljanja temeljnih vzrokov migracij, kot so revščina, spopadi in brezposelnost. Druge politike EU, vključno s trgovino, kmetijstvom in ribištvom, morajo uresničevati iste cilje na podlagi okrepljene skladnosti politike za razvoj.

Libija je 22.–23. novembra 2006 gostila ministrsko konferenco EU-Afrika o migraciji in razvoju , na kateri so bile uspešno opredeljene prednostne naloge na področju sodelovanja in sprejeta ambiciozna deklaracija, ki postavlja temelje skupnemu ukrepanju Afrike in EU na celinski, regionalni in nacionalni ravni v okviru različnih področij, in sicer od boja proti nezakoniti migraciji do olajševanja zakonitega pretoka oseb ter ukrepanja za odpravo temeljnih vzrokov migracij. Afrika in EU si morata resno prizadevati, da bosta izvedli ukrepe, vsebovane v končni deklaraciji, da se dosežejo konkretni rezultati, o katerih bi se poročalo na drugi ministrski konferenci, ki bo sklicana najpozneje v treh letih.

Na regionalni ravni je tudi julijska konferenca v Rabatu dosegla uspeh in utrla pot ukrepanju, prilagojenemu posebnim migracijskim potem. Prizadevanja je treba zdaj usmeriti v zagotavljanje ustreznega spremljanja izvajanja z namenom ocenjevanja napredka v okviru druge ministrske konference, ki bo organizirana v dveh letih . Tudi stike med državami EU in vzhodnoafriškimi državami je treba nadalje spodbujati, da se vzpostavi konkretno sodelovanje vzdolž vzhodnoafriških migracijskih poti.

EU bo na podlagi dela, ki je bilo izvedeno v zvezi z migracijskimi potmi, pospešila bolj ciljno usmerjeno sodelovanje z različni afriškimi regijami. Platforme za sodelovanje bodo povezovale afriške države, države članice EU in mednarodne organizacije na področju prizadevanj za učinkovitejše upravljanje migracij v interesu vseh. Ta skupni okvir bi lahko nato privedel do oblikovanja regionalnih sporazumov z zadevnimi afriškimi državami.

Dialog in sodelovanje s severnoafriškimi državami na dvostranski in regionalni ravni se bosta nadalje razvijala v okviru evropske sosedske politike (ESP) . Migracijska vprašanja so poglavitni element naših akcijskih načrtov ESP, našega političnega dialoga in finančne pomoči, da se okrepijo zmogljivosti teh držav pri učinkovitejšem upravljanju migracij. Delo se mora nadaljevati tudi v okviru EUROMED. Partnerji so se dogovorili, da bodo konkretno spremljali poglavje petletnega delovnega programa, sprejetega novembra 2005 v Barceloni, ki obravnava migracije, socialno vključevanje, pravosodje in varnost. To naj bi omogočilo, da se v drugi polovici leta 2007 skliče ministrska konferenca o migraciji.

Prav tako bo EU še naprej vključevala migracijska vprašanja v redni politični dialog z vsemi državami AKP in poglavitnimi regionalnimi gospodarskimi skupnostmi . Ta dialog temelji na obsežnem delovnem programu, predvidenem v členu 13 Kotonovskega sporazuma, ki zajema širok razpon tem na področju migracij in razvoja. Dialog bodo na strani EU vodile delegacije Komisije in veleposlaništva predsedstva v zadevnih državah, udeležile pa se ga bodo zainteresirane države članice, kar je v skladu z določbami člena 8 Kotonovskega sporazuma. Dialog se po potrebi nadalje krepi s posebnimi misijami Komisije. Leta 2006 so potekale tri tako imenovane misije iz člena 13. Leta 2007 bodo sledile druge ključne afriške države , med njimi Kamerun, Etiopija, Gana in Nigerija. Leta 2007 se bo prvič srečala skupna delovna skupina ECOWAS-EU na temo migracij ( ECOWAS – Gospodarska skupnost zahodnoafriških držav ).

EU bi morala prav tako prevzeti dejavno vlogo v okviru spremljanja dialoga na visoki ravni ZN o migraciji in razvoju , zlasti ko bo vzpostavljen svetovni forum na temo migracij. Komisija je pripravljena in si želi dejavno prispevati k prvemu srečanju tega foruma , ki bi moralo potekati v Belgiji poleti 2007.

3.1.2. Spodbujanje delovnega programa o migraciji in razvoju

Poglavitni izziv delovnega programa o migraciji in razvoju je obravnavati glavne spodbujevalne dejavnike migracije, kot sta revščina in pomanjkanje zaposlitvenih možnosti. EU mora priznati, da bi ustvarjanje delovnih mest v državah v razvoju lahko znatno zmanjšalo migracijski pritisk iz Afrike. Migrante je treba spodbujati, da prispevajo k razvoju svojih držav izvora. Poleg tega bo nakazil migrantov vedno več in Komisija na tem področju proučuje mehanizme sodelovanja z institucijami, kot sta Svetovna banka in Evropska investicijska banka. Prizadevanja se bodo osredotočila na izboljšanje zbiranja podatkov, zmanjšanje stroškov prenosov, olajšanje uporabe finančnega sektorja za te prenose ter na proučevanje načinov za dodatno povečanje vpliva nakazil na oblikovanje politik.

Program EU o migraciji in razvoju v Afriki naj bi si z vidika razvoja prizadeval zagotoviti kratkoročen odziv na izziv, ki ga migracije pomenijo za države AKP. Prvi cilj te pobude skupnega načrtovanja naj bi bil resno se spoprijeti s pomanjkanjem spodobnih delovnih mest v Afriki. Pomembna prednostna naloga bo spodbujanje naložb v delovno intenzivne sektorje v regijah z obsežno migracijo v tujino, in sicer v širšem okviru spodbujanja migracije in mobilnosti delovne sile znotraj Afrike. Druga področja sodelovanja bodo vključevala nakazila, beg možganov, diaspore, odgovorno vodenje, nezakonito migracijo in trgovino z ljudmi. Države članice bodo pozvane, da se Komisiji pridružijo pri načrtovanju teh ukrepov. Komisija bo znesek v višini 40 milijonov EUR namenila financiranju prve faze te pobude (sredstva 9. ERS), sredstva pa je treba dopolniti s prispevki držav članic. Geografsko območje pobude bo podsaharska Afrika, ukrepi pa se lahko osredotočajo na posebne države ali regije in – v prvi fazi – zlasti na zahodno Afriko.

EU mora še naprej pomagati afriškim državam pri krepitvi zmogljivosti za upravljanje migracij in azila , vključno z migracijskimi tokovi jug-jug, brez poseganja v obstoječe regionalne sporazume o migraciji in mobilnosti. V državah ESP se sprejemajo pomembne pobude na področju izgradnje zmogljivosti, zlasti glede upravljanja meja in institucionalne podpore za izboljšanje sprejema migrantov, pa tudi varstva pravic migrantov. Poleg tega je Komisija predlagala oblikovanje migracijskih profilov za vsako zadevno državo v razvoju[2]. Migracijski profili so orodje politike za zbiranje in analiziranje pomembnih informacij, ki so potrebne za pripravo konkretnih ukrepov v določenih okoliščinah na področju migracij in razvoja. Kratki migracijski profili za vse države AKP se kot priloga uvajajo v novo generacijo strateških dokumentov države. Migracijske profile je treba srednjeročno določiti za vse pomembne partnerske države. Ti podatki se lahko nato uporabijo za zagotavljanje tehnične in finančne pomoči afriškim državam pri odpravljanju temeljnih vzrokov migracij. Zamisel bi lahko bila oblikovati skupine za podporo migraciji , sestavljene iz strokovnjakov držav članic EU, ki bi lahko zagotovili potrebno pomoč afriškim državam prosilkam. Evropa bi morala postati dejavnejša in bolj pripravljena na področju migracijskih vprašanj.

Migracijske politike morajo temeljiti na zanesljivih dokazih in biti skladne z drugimi sorodnimi politikami. Spodbujanje povezav med politiko in raziskavami lahko prispeva k boljšemu razumevanju migracijskih stvarnosti in oblikovanja politike na tem področju. Po zgledu akademske mreže, ki povezuje raziskovalne inštitute na področju migracij v sredozemskih državah (CARIM), bo Komisija podpirala pobude, ki spodbujajo vzpostavitev vseafriške mreže „observatorijev“ in/ali raziskovalnih inštitutov na področju migracij .

Sprejeti je treba tudi ukrepe tesnega medinstitucionalnega sodelovanja na podlagi financiranja ES za pomoč afriškim državam pri oblikovanju njihove migracijske in azilne politike. Poleg tega bi si morale delegacije Komisije in predstavništva držav članic v afriških državah zagotoviti instrumente za obravnavanje vprašanj, povezanih z migracijo, in sicer z imenovanjem kontaktne osebe za migracijska vprašanja.

3.2. Zakonite migracije

Nadaljnji razvoj skupne evropske politike na področju priseljevanja delovne sile je pomemben del globalnega pristopa. Za oblikovanje res celovite evropske migracijske politike je treba zakonite migracije vključiti v zunanje in notranje politike EU. Migracije lahko prispevajo k izpolnjevanju spreminjajočih se potreb trga dela, upoštevati pa bi bilo treba gospodarske vidike migracijske politike. Ekonomsko-finančni svet je 28. novembra 2006 sprejel sklepe o politikah, ki bi EU omogočile, da pridobi večje gospodarske koristi iz migracij. Kakor je bilo navedeno v Načrtu politike zakonitega priseljevanja in v skladu s cilji evropske strategije zaposlovanja, EU za prihodnja leta načrtuje sprejetje dvosmernega pristopa, ki bi vključeval olajšanje sprejema nekaterih skupin priseljencev glede na potrebe (npr. visoko usposobljeni in sezonski delavci) brez poseganja v uporabo načela prednostne obravnave Skupnosti ter zagotavljanje skupnega varnega pravnega statusa za vse zakonito priseljene delavce.

Drugi ukrepi naj bi olajšali usklajenost med povpraševanjem po delovni sili in njeno ponudbo. Prihodnji portal o priseljevanju, evropski portal o poklicni mobilnosti, nove smernice za mrežo EURES 2007–2010 in evropski portal za mobilnost raziskovalcev so temeljna orodja za dosego tega cilja. Tretjim državam bodo zagotovljene informacije o možnostih za zakonito delo v Evropi, tudi na podlagi posebnih informacijskih kampanj. S pospeševanjem strokovnega usposabljanja, programov za razvoj spretnosti in jezikovnih tečajev se lahko povečajo možnosti za potencialne migrante, da najdejo zakonito zaposlitev. V ta namen bi se lahko v partnerskih državah ustanovili posebni centri za migracije s finančno podporo ES. Takšni centri bi lahko prispevali k olajšanju upravljanja sezonskih delavcev, izmenjav študentov in raziskovalcev ter drugih oblik zakonitega pretoka oseb.

Treba je nadalje proučiti potenciale novih oblik migracije, zlasti krožne migracije. Poleg tega bo treba podpirati razvoj orodij za boljše upravljanje migracij delovne sile v Evropsko unijo v okviru tretjih držav. V ta namen bo treba podpreti dejavnosti, kot so okrepitev upravnih služb tretjih držav, odgovornih za upravljanje migracij delovne sile, izgradnja zmogljivosti nacionalnih služb za zaposlovanje v tretjih državah in oblikovanje posredniških ustanov, pa tudi izvajanje načrtov za predhodno priseljevanje v državah izvora.

Po tem, ko bodo izpolnjeni nekateri pogoji, kot sta sodelovanje na področju nezakonitih migracij in sklenitev učinkovitih mehanizmov za ponovni sprejem, bi cilj lahko bil, da se z določenim številom zainteresiranih tretjih držav dogovorijo programi za mobilnost , ki bi državljanom teh držav omogočali boljši dostop do EU. Nedvomno je treba bolje organizirati različne oblike zakonitega pretoka med EU in tretjimi državami. Programi za mobilnost bi zagotovili splošen okvir za upravljanje takšnega pretoka in združili možnosti, ki jih ponujajo države članice in Evropska skupnost, ter hkrati v celoti spoštovali razdelitev pristojnosti, ki jo določa Pogodba.

V okviru obsežnejših programov so lahko sklepanje sporazumov o ponovnem sprejemu kot tudi okrepitev sodelovanja na področju nezakonitega priseljevanja ter sodelovanje pri učinkovitem upravljanju meja predpogoji za poenostavitev vizumskih postopkov. Komisija meni, da je pospeševanje mobilnosti pomemben element pri celovitem pristopu k vprašanju migracij, zlasti za države, vključene v ESP, v okviru katere bo treba podrobno proučiti, kako oblikovati vizumske postopke, da v prihodnje ne bi pomenili tolikšne ovire za zakonita potovanja v EU in iz nje[3].

Pri oblikovanju politik, ki obravnavajo potencialne koristi, ki jih imajo tretje države od migracij delovne sile v Evropo, se mora EU popolnoma zavedati tveganj bega možganov in njegovih družbeno-gospodarskih posledic za države v razvoju. Prepoznavanje negativnih učinkov, ki jih ima čezmerna emigracija usposobljenih delavcev na zdravstvene storitve številnih držav, je na primer privedlo do oblikovanja usklajene strategije EU, ki določa celo vrsto načel o etičnem zaposlovanju zdravstvenih delavcev in spodbuja večjo samozadostnost Evrope na področju usposabljanja zdravstvenih delavcev, da se minimizira povpraševanje, s katerim se bodo morali v prihodnosti soočati nestabilni zdravstveni sistemi. Podobne pobude je treba za obvladovanje pomanjkanja (potencialnih) znanj in spretnosti ter bega možganov sprejeti tudi v drugih sektorjih. V tem okviru je treba resno upoštevati koristi, povezane s kroženjem možganov.

3.3. Vključevanje in medkulturni dialog

Povezava med migracijo in vključevanjem bo pomembna prednostna naloga za EU. Komisija bo dejavno spodbujala izvajanje skupnega programa za vključevanje in gradila na skupnih osnovnih načelih o vključevanju, ki zajemajo vsa pomembna področja, kot so zaposlovanje, javno zdravje ter družbeno-gospodarska, kulturna in politična razsežnost. Komisija bo oblikovala instrumente, ki bodo omogočali večjo udeležbo različnih zainteresiranih strani , tudi samih migrantov, in s tem prispevala k spodbujanju učinkovite strategije vključevanja. To bo zajemalo a) vzpostavitev platforme za vključevanje, v okviru katere si bodo zadevni partnerji lahko redno izmenjevali mnenja; b) konsolidacijo vloge lokalnih organov na podlagi uspeha konference v Rotterdamu 9.–10. oktobra „Vključevanje mest: evropske politike, lokalne prakse“; ter c) oblikovanje spletne strani o vključevanju in objavo novih izdaj priročnika o vključevanju ter letnega poročila o migraciji in vključevanju.

Izboljšanje vključevanja na trg dela je bistvenega pomena. Pričakuje se, da bo leta 2007 skupina na visoki ravni za socialno vključevanje etničnih manjšin in njihov popoln dostop na trg dela predstavila praktična priporočila, ki bi lahko obogatila obstoječe politike. EU se mora še posebej osredotočiti na izobraževanje otrok, ki izhajajo iz družin priseljencev, in bi morala v ta namen uporabljati okvir programa Izobraževanje in usposabljanje 2010. Več je treba ukrepati tudi zato, da se migrantom zagotovi državljanska vzgoja , ki se bo osredotočala na temeljne evropske vrednote, in omogoči učenje jezika njihove države gostiteljice. Nujno je treba odpraviti možne ovire za jezikovno usposabljanje. Prav tako pa je pomembno okrepiti sposobnost države gostiteljice, da se prilagodi raznolikostim. Cilj evropskega leta enakih možnosti za vse, ki se bo praznovalo leta 2007, je povečati ozaveščenost v zvezi s tem vprašanjem.

Tudi medkulturni dialog je treba uporabiti kot orodje za vključevanje. „Evropsko leto medkulturnega dialoga 2008“ bo prednost namenilo dialogu v vsakdanjem življenju, na primer v šolah, pri športnih in kulturnih dejavnostih ter pri delu. Poleg tega mora EU še naprej podpirati projekte na področju medkulturnega izobraževanja, izobraževanja priseljencev in vključevanja prikrajšane mladine v okviru ustreznih programov.

3.4. Boj proti nezakoniti migraciji in trgovini z ljudmi

Na ravni EU je treba boj proti nezakoniti migraciji okrepiti na prednostnih področjih, opredeljenih v Sporočilu Komisije z dne 19. julija 2006. Prednostne naloge vključujejo potrebo po povečanju medsebojnega zaupanja in izmenjavo informacij med državami članicami, tudi na področju urejanja nezakonitih priseljencev, izboljšanja kontrole dostopa na ozemlje EU in kaznovanja delodajalcev, ki ponujajo zaposlitev državljanom tretjih držav, ki nezakonito prebivajo v EU. Čeprav se pojav neprijavljenega dela ne omejuje zgolj na migrante, bo spomladi 2007 predlagana nova zakonodaja o kaznih za delodajalce teh oseb ob upoštevanju, da je priložnost za pridobitev dela v EU brez zahtevanega zakonskega statusa ključni spodbujevalni dejavnik nezakonitega priseljevanja. Hkrati bo več poudarka namenjenega izvrševanju obstoječe zakonodaje, ki bi ščitila tudi migrante, zlasti direktiv o zdravju in varnosti na delovnem mestu. Poleg tega je treba države spodbujati k sklepanju protokolov ZN o tihotapljenju in trgovini z ljudmi .

EUROPOL se bo leta 2007 posvetil boju proti pomoči pri nezakonitem priseljevanju in trgovini z ljudmi ter še naprej zagotavljal operativne obveščevalne podatke, pa tudi dejavnosti za podporo in usposabljanje, ki bodo na voljo organom kazenskega pregona iz tretjih držav. Agencija FRONTEX pa bi morala v okviru politike zunanjih odnosov EU pripraviti tehnične sporazume o delu, ki bi omogočili skupne dejavnosti z zadevnimi tretjimi državami, in slednje pozvati, kadar je to potrebno, k sodelovanju pri operativnih dejavnostih. Na podlagi priporočil uradnikov za zvezo za priseljevanje, ki so nameščeni vzdolž poti, se pripravljajo akcijski načrti o različnih migracijskih poteh. Mreže uradnikov za zvezo za priseljevanje je treba okrepiti s ciljem, da bi vsaka ključna afriška država izvora in tranzita imela vsaj enega uradnika za zvezo. Poleg tega bi bilo treba določiti tudi mandat uradnika EU za zvezo za priseljevanje, ki bi lahko deloval v imenu več držav članic.

Vračanje in ponovni sprejem bosta še naprej poglavitni del upravljanja migracij. Države članice je treba podpirati pri oblikovanju in izvajanju programov prostovoljnega vračanja ter načrtov prisilnega vračanja , vključno s skupnimi leti za izgon. Podpiranje držav članic pri pridobivanju potrebne dokumentacije za takojšnjo vrnitev in ponovni sprejem nezakonitih migrantov ostaja še naprej prednostna naloga. Države članice so v okviru pripravljalnih ukrepov RETURN prejele finančno podporo za svoja prizadevanja pri izboljšanju vseh razsežnosti upravljanja vračanja, na podlagi rezultatov teh ukrepov pa se bo mogoče usmeriti v večletno načrtovanje prihodnjega Evropskega sklada za vračanje. V tem okviru je prav tako pomembno čimprejšnje sprejetje predlagane direktive o vzpostavitvi skupnih standardov za postopke držav članic na področju vračanja.

Pogajanja o sporazumu med ES in Ukrajino o ponovnem sprejemu so se zaključila, medtem ko pogajanja z Marokom uspešno napredujejo. Pričakuje se, da se bodo kmalu formalno začela tudi podobna pogajanja z Moldavijo in Alžirijo. V okviru uravnoteženega pristopa in na podlagi dialoga o migracijskih in vizumskih vprašanjih, predvidenega v akcijskih načrtih ESP, je treba predvideti pogajanja o ponovnem sprejemu in poenostavitvi vizumskih postopkov z vsako sosednjo državo, takoj ko so izpolnjeni ustrezni predpogoji. Obveznost ponovnega sprejema iz člena 13 Kotonovskega sporazuma je z vidika sodelovanja z državami AKP pomembna in pomeni ustrezno podlago za dodatne dvostranske sporazume o ponovnem sprejemu med državami članicami EU in izbranimi državami AKP. Uporabo te obveznosti pa bi bilo treba obravnavati v širšem okviru člena 13.

Izkušnje so pokazale, da se dogovor lahko sklene samo, če lahko EU ponudi kaj v zameno. Države članice v okviru svojih dvostranskih pogajanj o ponovnem sprejemu vse pogosteje ponujajo tudi druge oblike podpore in pomoči tretjim državam, da se olajšajo sklepanja takih sporazumov, treba pa je proučiti možnosti uporabe tega širšega pristopa na ravni EU.

Integrirano upravljanje morskih meja je pomemben del globalnega pristopa in predmet ločenega sporočila z naslovom Okrepitev upravljanja južnih morskih meja Evropske unije .

3 . 5. Azil in zaščita beguncev

Pomembno ni samo povečati prizadevanja za reševanje vprašanja nezakonite migracije, temveč tudi zagotoviti dostop do azilnih postopkov za tiste, ki bi v mešanih migracijskih tokovih morda potrebovali mednarodno zaščito. Predloge, ki jih vsebuje akcijski načrt Visokega komisariata Združenih narodov za begunce (UNHCR), sestavljen iz 10 točk in predstavljen na konferenci v Rabatu, je treba uporabiti za pospeševanje operativnega sodelovanja. Bistveno je, da so vprašanja azila in zaščite še naprej eden od poglavitnih elementov našega obsežnejšega sodelovanja in dialoga s tretjimi državami. Treba je še naprej izvajati regionalne programe zaščite, pa tudi dejavnosti na drugih področjih, da se zagotovi podpora prosilcem za azil in osebam, ki potrebujejo mednarodno zaščito, na primer v Mavretaniji in južni Afriki. Prav tako bodo zagotovljena sredstva za financiranje dejavnosti zaščite v okviru projekta, ki ga bo UNHCR izvajal v vseh južnih in vzhodnih sredozemskih državah, kot so Maroko, Alžirija, Tunizija, Libija, Jordanija, Sirija in Libanon.

4. FINANčNA PODPORA ZA CELOVITO EVROPSKO MIGRACIJSKO POLITIKO

4.1. Podpiranje zunanje razsežnosti

Kot je bilo že napovedano v okviru sklepov Evropskega sveta decembra 2005, Komisija potrjuje, da namerava v okviru svojih odnosov s tretjimi državami okrepiti finančno pomoč na področjih, ki se nanašajo na migracijo ali so z njo povezana, tudi na podlagi financiranja v višini do 3 % zneska sredstev instrumenta evropske sosedske politike in primerljivih prizadevanj v okviru drugih ustreznih finančnih instrumentov. Enakovredna prizadevanja se bodo prav tako uresničevala, zlasti v podsaharski Afriki, z namenom odpravljanja temeljnih vzrokov migracij. Ta sredstva bodo dodeljena na podlagi geografskih programov v okviru ustreznih instrumentov za zunanjo pomoč in tematskega programa o migraciji in azilu.

Glede Evropskega razvojnega sklada (ERS) je pobuda EU na področju upravljanja, namenjena državam AKP, pomemben mehanizem, ki tem državam omogoča, da pridobijo znatno dodatno finančno podporo za oblikovanje in izvajanje reform upravljanja. Dostop do teh spodbujevalnih sredstev iz 10. ERS bo odvisen od izida dialoga med Komisijo in partnersko državo o pretekli uspešnosti in prihodnjih zavezah na področju upravljanja, vključno s področjem migracij. Na razpolago bodo dana dodatna sredstva v okviru programa EU o migraciji in razvoju v Afriki.

Poleg tega je treba po konferenci EU-Afrika o migraciji in razvoju, ki je potekala v Tripoliju, proučiti načine za pomoč tistim severnoafriškim državam, ki želijo prispevati k ublažitvi migracijskih pritiskov v državah podsaharske Afrike na podlagi finančne pomoči za usklajevanje njihovih prizadevanj z državami EU.

Na podlagi izkušenj, pridobljenih s programom Aeneas, in povzetih naukov je bil pripravljen nov tematski program o migraciji in azilu. Ključna novost je ta, da se bodo finančna sredstva zdaj dodeljevala bodisi geografsko ob upoštevanju koncepta „migracijske poti“ bodisi transverzalno na podlagi svetovnih in večregionalnih pobud, ki niso izključno vezane na eno samo migracijsko pot.

Cilj evropskega teritorialnega sodelovanja regionalne politike lahko nenazadnje tudi zagotavlja ukrepe, ki lahko prispevajo k upravljanju migracij s sosednjimi državami, na primer na podlagi skupnih ukrepov usposabljanja za mejne patrulje, carinske organe in policiste, okrepljenih kontrol v pristaniščih in na letališčih, mrež za izmenjavo informacij o migracijah, izgradnje zmogljivosti in ustrezne migracijske zakonodaje v državah izvora.

Podrobnejše informacije glede zneskov, ki so na razpolago v okviru različnih instrumentov financiranja, so na voljo v Prilogi C .

4.2. Spodbujanje solidarnosti med državami članicami

Finančna sredstva v višini 4, 020 milijona EUR, ki jih je proračunski organ za obdobje 2007–2013 dodelil okvirnemu programu z naslovom „Solidarnost in upravljanje migracijskih tokov“ , so razdeljena na štiri ločene finančne instrumente, vsak od njih pa podpira različne cilje upravljanja migracijskih tokov, usmerjenih proti EU: Sklad za zunanje meje (1,820 milijona EUR), Sklad za vračanje (676 milijonov EUR), Evropski sklad za begunce (699 milijonov EUR) in Sklad za vključevanje (825 milijonov EUR). Pri vsakem skladu bo večji del sredstev neposredno izplačan državam članicam v okviru sistemov deljenega upravljanja . Ti novi instrumenti so specifični in dopolnjujejo druga financiranja Skupnosti, ki podpirajo reševanje migracijskih vprašanj, vključno z instrumenti regionalne politike.

Države članice bi morale dejavno prevzeti strateški in dolgoročni pristop k uporabi teh sredstev ter podpirati nacionalne ukrepe, ki spodbujajo solidarnost med državami članicami . Čeprav je glavni cilj okvirnega programa okrepiti izvajanje notranje razsežnosti politik Skupnosti na področju azila, priseljevanja in kontrole meja, bo veliko število ukrepov verjetno spodbujalo doseganje ciljev, določenih v tem sporočilu. Da bi poudarila to povezanost, bo Komisija predlagala strateške smernice, katerih namen bo vključitev ciljev migracijske politike v operativni okvir vsakega sklada. Obravnavana bo celovita in večnamenska narava takšnih ukrepov in ter okrepljen cilj okvirnega programa, ki je podpreti kontinuiteto ukrepov, povezanih z upravljanjem migracij v državah članicah.

Komisija bo prav tako zagotavljala, da bodo ukrepi Skupnosti v okviru teh štirih skladov, s katerimi neposredno upravlja Komisija, ponujali možnosti podpore državam članicam pri izvajanju celovite politike priseljevanja, in sicer s financiranjem konkretnega sodelovanja, oblikovanja skupnih orodij in referenčnih dokumentov, inovativnih pilotnih projektov ter z zagotavljanjem možnosti zainteresiranim stranem, da s svojim strokovnim znanjem prispevajo k oblikovanju politik ES na podlagi raziskav in dejavnosti, ki se osredotočajo na politike. Komisija si prav tako prizadeva, da bo proučila vse možnosti za zagotovitev učinka finančnega vzvoda s temi skladi, in sicer s sklenitvijo finančnih dogovorov z drugimi zainteresiranimi stranmi, kot je Evropska investicijska banka.

5. SKLEPNE UGOTOVITVE

Evropska unija mora sprejeti celovit pristop k naraščajočim in spreminjajočim se izzivom, ki izhajajo iz upravljanja migracijskih tokov v globaliziranem svetu. Leto 2006 je vodilno leto za globalni pristop. EU in njene države članice so uspele vzpostaviti neprimerljivo konkretno sodelovanje. Vendar pa se je v letu 2006 zabeležilo dodatno povečanje migracijskega pritiska na EU, zlasti na njenih južnih mejah. Ukrepe je zato treba nadalje celovito povečati in okrepiti, na primer z izvajanjem klavzule prehodnega obdobja iz člena 67 PES, da se povečajo zmogljivosti EU za obvladovanje izzivov, povezanih z migracijo.

Evropska unija je od leta 1999 izvedla vrsto pobud, usmerjenih v skupno migracijsko politiko, za oblikovanje skupne azilne politike, boj proti nezakonitemu priseljevanju in trgovini z ljudmi, zagotovitev pravične obravnave zakonitih migrantov in vzpostavitev partnerstev z državami izvora in tranzita. Komisija je odločena nadaljevati to pot, tudi s predložitvijo novih zakonodajnih predlogov Svetu in Parlamentu, ki bi se nanašali na zakonite migracije in pravice delavcev migrantov. Vendar pa morajo države članice tudi povečati svoja prizadevanja, da se zagotovi hitro izvajanje teh ukrepov, ki so že bili skupno dogovorjeni, in da se ukrepanje EU dopolni z njihovimi lastnimi pobudami.

Bistvenega pomena je, da se tekoče dejavnosti redno ocenjujejo in strategije EU ustrezno posodabljajo, hkrati pa prizna, da bo trajen in ustrezen odziv na pojav migracij zahteval nenehna in dolgoročna prizadevanja, pa tudi znatna sredstva.

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 and trafficking action plan 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] Sklicevanja na vse navedene dokumente so na voljo v Prilogi A .

[2] Glej Prilogo 8 Sporočila o migraciji in razvoju.

[3] Glej Sporočilo o krepitvi evropske sosedske politike, COM(2006) 726 konč.