Immigration - the EU response

European Agenda on Migration - COM(2015) 240 final

ACT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A European Agenda on Migration (COM(2015) 240 final of 13.5.2015)

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THE COMMUNICATION DO?

It develops a set of concrete initiatives to better manage immigration by ensuring all EU countries take their fair share of immigrants and asylum-seekers.

In addressing both the external and internal dimensions of EU migration policy, it seeks to boost EU cooperation with countries outside the bloc.

KEY POINTS

Short-term priorities

Immediate action to prevent further loss of life in the Mediterranean:

—	stepping up search and rescue efforts in the Mediterranean,

—	targeting the criminal smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable migrants,

—	using objective criteria to relocate and resettle immigrants among its member countries,

—	working closely with African countries to reduce immigration flows,

—	helping those EU countries that receive the new arrivals.

Medium/long-term priorities

Better management of all aspects of EU migration policy:

—	reducing incentives for illegal immigration: — working with partner countries to tackle the root causes that push people to try to come to Europe, — dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks, — improving the EU policy of returning illegal migrants to their home country,

—	improving border management: — putting in place procedures to manage all the EU’s external borders more efficiently, — making greater use of technology, — supporting existing border controls,

—	improving EU asylum policy: — developing a clear system for receiving asylum seekers that will share responsibility for their reception more fairly between all EU countries,

—	developing a new legal migration policy: — focusing on attracting people with the skills the EU needs at a time when its own working population is declining.

More

—	European Agenda on Migration

—	Migration press pack

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Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: The European Agenda on Security (COM(2015) 185 final of 28.4.2015)

last update 26.08.2015