52007DC0247

[pic] | COMMISSIONE DELLE COMUNITÀ EUROPEE |

Bruxelles, 16.5.2007

COM(2007) 247 definitivo

COMUNICAZIONE DELLA COMMISSIONE AL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO, AL CONSIGLIO, AL COMITATO ECONOMICO E SOCIALE EUROPEO E AL COMITATO DELLE REGIONI

Applicazione dell’approccio globale in materia di migrazione alle aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all’Unione europea

INDICE

1. Introduzione 3

2. I paesi delle aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all’Unione europea 4

2.1. Turchia e Balcani occidentali 5

2.1.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo 5

2.1.2. Raccomandazioni 6

2.2. Paesi partner della politica europea di vicinato in Europea orientale e Caucaso meridionale 7

2.2.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo 7

2.2.2. Raccomandazioni 9

2.3. Federazione Russa 11

2.3.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo 11

2.3.2. Raccomandazioni 11

3. Altre aree 12

3.1. Paesi partner dell'ENP nel Mediterraneo orientale (Siria, Libano e Giordania) e altri paesi mediorientali (Iran e Iraq) 12

3.1.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo 12

3.1.2. Raccomandazioni 12

3.2. Asia centrale 13

3.2.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo 13

3.2.2. Raccomandazioni 13

3.3. Paesi d’origine asiatici 14

3.3.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo 14

3.3.2. Raccomandazioni 14

4. Un migliore coordinamento 16

5. Conclusione 17

Annex I: Acronyms and glossary 21

Annex II: Examples of EU cooperation with and assistance to countries covered by the Communication 24

Annex III: Overview of the migratory situation and flows from and in the Eastern and South-Eastern regions neighbouring the EU and statistics 76

Applicazione dell’approccio globale in materia di migrazione alle aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all’Unione europea

1. INTRODUZIONE

Nel dicembre 2005 il Consiglio europeo ha adottato l’approccio globale in materia di migrazione. Tale approccio ha riguardato inizialmente l’Africa e l’area mediterranea; successivamente il Consiglio europeo, nelle sue conclusioni del dicembre 2006[1], ha invitato la Commissione a "presentare proposte sul dialogo rafforzato e misure concrete" per quanto riguarda l’applicazione dell’approccio globale alle aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all’Unione europea. La presente comunicazione risponde a questo invito, suggerendo un approccio improntato al concetto di “rotta migratoria” (si veda, all’allegato I, il glossario di tutti i termini usati nel presente testo e la spiegazione degli acronimi).

La comunicazione interessa principalmente le aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all’UE che, nella visione della Commissione, comprendono:

la Turchia; i Balcani occidentali (Albania, Bosnia ed Erzegovina, Croazia, ex Repubblica jugoslava di Macedonia, Montenegro e Serbia, incluso il Kosovo[2]); i paesi partner della politica europea di vicinato (ENP) in Europa orientale (Ucraina, Moldova e Belarus[3]) e Caucaso meridionale (Armenia, Azerbaigian e Georgia), e la Federazione Russa.

Nell'attuare la presente comunicazione, è opportuno che siano anzitutto prese in considerazione le raccomandazioni che interessano direttamente questi paesi. Tuttavia l’applicazione dell’approccio globale alle aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all’UE, secondo il concetto delle "rotte migratorie", esige che si considerino pure i paesi di origine e di transito più lontani. Occorre quindi concentrarsi anche sulle aree seguenti:

paesi partner dell'ENP in Medio Oriente (Siria, Giordania e Libano), Iran e Iraq; Asia centrale (Kazakistan, Kirghizistan, Tagikistan, Turkmenistan e Uzbekistan) e paesi d’origine asiatici come la Cina, l’India, il Pakistan, l’Afghanistan, il Bangladesh, lo Sri Lanka, il Vietnam, le Filippine e l’Indonesia.

Per questi paesi e zone, la comunicazione formula raccomandazioni di medio e lungo periodo.

Con tutti questi paesi la Comunità ha stabilito un dialogo politico ed economico e relazioni di cooperazione nell’ambito di precisi quadri istituzionali, che riguardano di solito anche l’immigrazione. La presente comunicazione passa in rassegna questi vari contesti per ogni gruppo di paesi. In alcuni casi, il dialogo e la cooperazione sull’immigrazione e ambiti correlati (come l’occupazione e l’istruzione) sono già molto avanzati: una loro eventuale intensificazione dovrebbe basarsi sulle iniziative esistenti, integrando pienamente, al tempo stesso, relativi attori e questioni, in particolare nel settore dell’immigrazione a scopi occupazionali. L’allegato II contiene un elenco indicativo di molti progetti di cooperazione in corso nel settore della migrazione, dei visti e dei controlli alle frontiere, finanziati dalla CE nei paesi in questione, ed è importante che tale cooperazione continui ad essere sottolineata e resa visibile.

L’applicazione dell’approccio globale richiede un’ampia analisi dei movimenti legali e clandestini, dell’offerta e della domanda globale di manodopera, della migrazione a scopi occupazionali, della gestione della migrazione economica e della necessità di protezione internazionale. Vanno inoltre prese in esame le rotte e le tendenze migratorie e le loro potenziali evoluzioni. A tale riguardo l’allegato III presenta alcune conclusioni preliminari sulle aree in oggetto e diverse statistiche. L’importanza di queste aree per l’Unione europea è già chiara. Circa un terzo dei cittadini di paesi terzi che vivono nell’UE sono cittadini di paesi orientali e sudorientali vicini e della Federazione Russa. L’allargamento ad est dell’Unione europea nel 2004 e nel 2007 ha cambiato la base giuridica del pendolarismo transfrontaliero e dell’immigrazione per molti paesi vicini, mentre i benefici dell’appartenenza all’UE – che si traducono in un’alta crescita economica e in opportunità di lavoro – rendono a loro volta i nuovi Stati membri destinazioni di maggior richiamo per l’immigrazione dei loro vicini orientali. I paesi vicini all’Unione europea stanno sperimentando gli effetti sia dell’arrivo che della fuga di cervelli, e i benefici netti aiutano a mitigare la tensione, in termini di alta disoccupazione e basso reddito, che è spesso il risultato delle difficoltà della transizione politica ed economica.

Va osservato che l’approccio globale non riguarda ancora, per il momento, l’America Latina e i Caraibi. L’aspetto migratorio rientra tuttavia nel dialogo politico regolarmente intrattenuto con quest’area ed assume importanza sempre crescente: la Commissione lo affronterà quindi in occasione della preparazione del prossimo vertice UE/LAC (Lima, maggio 2008), secondo modalità conformi all’approccio globale e che permettano inoltre l’attuazione degli impegni assunti da entrambe le parti al vertice di Vienna del maggio 2006.

2. I paesi delle aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all’Unione europea

Sviluppando l’approccio globale con l’Africa, vari strumenti si sono rivelati utili nei rapporti con i paesi partner, come i profili migratori e le piattaforme di cooperazione sulla migrazione e sullo sviluppo (cfr. allegato I). Questi strumenti possono essere pertinenti anche nell’applicazione dell’approccio globale alle aree orientali e sudorientali: il loro utilizzo va però considerato in funzione dei singoli paesi e/o su base regionale, in particolare tenendo conto dei quadri e delle relazioni già esistenti nelle aree e nei paesi interessati, dove la loro applicazione potrebbe apportare valore aggiunto. La presente comunicazione va inoltre letta congiuntamente alla comunicazione sulla migrazione circolare e i partenariati per la mobilità fra l’Unione europea e i paesi terzi , adottata simultaneamente.

2.1. Turchia e Balcani occidentali[4]

2.1.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo

Per quanto riguarda la Turchia – che è legata all'UE da un accordo d’associazione dal 1963 -, le questioni migratorie sono contemplate dal partenariato per l’adesione concluso nel 2006.

Nel caso dei Balcani occidentali le questioni migratorie sono contemplate dall'accordo di stabilizzazione e associazione (SAA), che è il quadro – stabilito o in via di elaborazione – per le relazioni contrattuali con ciascuno dei paesi di quest’area[5]. Le questioni relative alla migrazione sono inoltre affrontate, spesso piuttosto dettagliatamente, nei pertinenti partenariati europei o partenariati per l'adesione (Croazia e Turchia). L'attuazione dei partenariati è controllata principalmente attraverso le relazioni annuali sui progressi compiuti e le riunioni organizzate con i paesi interessati. Le questioni migratorie sono discusse anche nel quadro della riunione annuale dei ministri GLS con i paesi dei Balcani occidentali.

Per quanto riguarda la Croazia, la Turchia e l'ex Repubblica jugoslava di Macedonia (paesi candidati), le questioni relative alla migrazione sono discusse approfonditamente nelle apposite riunioni di sottocomitato e possono essere sollevate nell'ambito del Comitato d'associazione e del Consiglio d'associazione. Nel quadro dei negoziati d'adesione con la Croazia e con la Turchia le questioni riguardanti la migrazione sono state passate in rassegna e sono seguite, fra l'altro, nei capi "Giustizia, libertà e sicurezza" e "Libera circolazione dei lavoratori".

Per quanto riguarda gli altri paesi dell'area, le questioni migratorie sono esaminate nel contesto di consulenze politiche e processi di controllo specifici (task force consultiva per l'Albania, processo di controllo delle riforme nel caso della Bosnia ed Erzegovina, dialogo permanente rafforzato nei casi del Montenegro e della Serbia), comprese le riunioni di gruppi tecnici. Quanto al Kosovo, le questioni in oggetto sono affrontate nell'ambito del meccanismo di controllo del processo di stabilizzazione e di associazione (STM).

Il processo di cooperazione nell'Europa sudorientale (SEECP) ha un ruolo sempre più importante come forum per la cooperazione regionale in tutta quest'area, e include la cooperazione nel settore GLS. Il SEECP partecipa al processo di creazione di un nuovo quadro regionale, con controllo direttamente regionale, che succederà al Patto di stabilità per l’Europa sudorientale.

Tutti i paesi candidati e quelli il cui progetto di adesione all'UE è stato riconosciuto sono già attivamente impegnati nell'adozione dell'acquis comunitario. Per rendere agevole lo svolgimento di questo processo e per garantire al tempo stesso una migliore gestione dei flussi lungo le rotte migratorie sudorientali, sono proposte come priorità generali le azioni esposte in appresso.

2.1.2. Raccomandazioni

- Per completare il dialogo sulla migrazione che ha luogo nelle sedi bilaterali e regionali, delle piattaforme di cooperazione nazionali e sub-regionali sulla migrazione potrebbero facilitare ulteriormente la discussione fra tutti gli attori coinvolti, ispirandosi all'esperienza acquisita nel quadro dell'iniziativa MARRI.

- Il dialogo con le autorità dei paesi candidati e dei paesi partner dovrebbe includere discussioni su come l'impatto della migrazione in termini di sviluppo può contribuire a rafforzare la stabilità e a promuovere la crescita nella regione . Dovrebbero essere elaborate politiche per evitare la fuga di cervelli, come investimenti nella formazione e nello sviluppo delle capacità per migliorare le condizioni di lavoro, aumentare le possibilità occupazionali e incoraggiare così i lavoratori qualificati a restare. Occorre inoltre esaminare più approfonditamente i modi di ridurre i costi dell'invio delle rimesse e di rafforzarne l'impatto sullo sviluppo dei paesi di quest'area. Occorrerebbe organizzare visite di studio di esperti per promuovere i contatti, incoraggiare la cooperazione diretta fra le amministrazioni ed esaminare le capacità istituzionali. Potrebbero anche essere organizzati workshops su diversi aspetti del programma relativo all'immigrazione e allo sviluppo. Dovrebbero infine essere incoraggiate iniziative volte a mettere in contatto i migranti altamente qualificati, come i ricercatori scientifici, con i loro paesi d'origine.

- Bisognerebbe aumentare le possibilità di migrazione circolare , tenendo conto al tempo dell'esistenza di movimenti transfrontalieri stagionali di breve durata nella regione. Ad eccezione della Croazia, per la quale già vige l'esenzione dal visto per gli spostamenti nell'UE, i regimi dei visti nella regione devono essere ancora migliorati e armonizzati per permettere la circolazione a scopi occupazionali. Dovrebbe anche essere analizzata la possibilità di offrire una gamma più ampia di programmi di scambio ai ricercatori e agli studenti; occorrerebbe inoltre riflettere su come garantire che i migranti siano opportunamente preparati alla partenza, che abbiano cioè un'idea realistica della vita e delle opportunità di lavoro nell'Unione europea, e a tal fine potrebbero essere utili programmi di formazione o altri programmi speciali, così come un collegamento fra l'offerta e la domanda di lavoro. I portali sull'immigrazione, che saranno operativi per la fine del 2007, avranno un ruolo fondamentale. L'esperienza dei centri di servizi per l'immigrazione, se la valutazione di quelli esistenti sarà positiva, potrebbe essere ripetuta. La creazione di unità specializzate in ogni Ministero del Lavoro o Ministero dell'Interno aiuterebbe inoltre a formulare risposte politiche adeguate, col giusto equilibrio fra il fabbisogno di manodopera e gli aspetti relativi alla sicurezza. Per quanto riguarda i visti per soggiorni di breve durata, l'applicazione degli accordi di facilitazione del visto, già siglati con alcuni paesi dei Balcani occidentali, contribuirà a migliorare e a semplificare le procedure di rilascio del visto per alcune categorie di cittadini di questi Stati.

- La legislazione in materia d'asilo e di protezione dei rifugiati dovrebbe essere rafforzata e integrata per fornire tutte le garanzie giuridiche alle persone che potrebbero avere bisogno di protezione internazionale. Il Montenegro e la Serbia devono ancora adottare una legislazione di base in materia d'asilo e dovrebbero essere incoraggiati a farlo. La Turchia deve ancora modificare le sue leggi principali sull'asilo e renderle conformi all'acquis pertinente, deve garantirne l'effettiva applicazione e dotarsi di capacità amministrative in linea con le migliori prassi dell'UE. In tutti i paesi è necessario un impegno maggiore per garantire che le norme rilevanti siano effettivamente applicate.

- Occorre intensificare la lotta contro l 'immigrazione clandestina e la tratta degli esseri umani . FRONTEX dovrebbe approfondire le sue relazioni con i paesi di quest'area. Ricorrendo a strumenti quali IPA o i gemellaggi e TAIEX, ai paesi partner dovrebbe essere offerta un'assistenza tecnica che includa fra l'altro formazioni supplementari per le guardie di frontiera e i funzionari addetti all'immigrazione e lo sviluppo di statistiche affidabili sui casi riferiti. L'IPA potrebbe anche sostenere alcune azioni relative al controllo delle frontiere e alla gestione dell'immigrazione nei paesi già candidati all'adesione all'UE e nei potenziali candidati. Devono essere infine applicati gli accordi di riammissione stipulati con i paesi dei Balcani occidentali, e l'accordo di riammissione con la Turchia deve essere concluso al più presto[6].

- L'UE deve promuovere una più stretta cooperazione multidisciplinare a livello regionale fra le autorità di contrasto nell'ambito della lotta contro la criminalità organizzata, in particolare attraverso una collaborazione rafforzata fra Europol e il centro SECI di Bucarest. A tal fine fra Europol e SECI sarà concluso un memorandum d'intesa che affronterà in particolare il problema della tratta degli esseri umani, mentre l'obiettivo a lungo termine sarà la conclusione di un accordo di cooperazione operativa.

2.2. Paesi partner della politica europea di vicinato in Europea orientale e Caucaso meridionale

2.2.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo

L'ambito delle relazioni con i paesi d'Europa orientale e Caucaso meridionale è la politica europea di vicinato (ENP). Benché solo indirettamente menzionata negli accordi di partenariato e di cooperazione (PCA), che costituiscono la base giuridica delle relazioni comunitarie con questi paesi, la cooperazione in materia di immigrazione, visti, asilo, gestione delle frontiere e altre questioni economiche e sociali collegate figura in tutti i piani d'azione conclusi nell'ambito della ENP con i partner orientali. Alcuni di questi paesi partner dispongono anche di un proprio programma nazionale d'azione sulle questioni in oggetto. Nel caso dell'Ucraina esiste un piano d'azione GLS distinto – equivalente alla sezione corrispondente dei piani d'azione conclusi con l'Armenia, l'Azerbaigian, la Georgia e la Moldova –, e la Commissione sta anche lavorando con questo paese sulla base di una tabella di valutazione contenente dei parametri e fondata sul piano d'azione GLS.

Le questioni relative all'immigrazione vengono già discusse approfonditamente con la Moldova e l'Ucraina negli appositi sottocomitati. Tali questioni sono inoltre sollevate nel quadro degli incontri periodici della troika ministeriale GLS UE-Ucraina e nelle riunioni del Comitato di cooperazione e del Consiglio di cooperazione. Un approccio analogo è seguito nel caso dei tre paesi del Caucaso meridionale i cui piani d'azione sono stati adottati nel novembre 2006. Con ogni paese, il dialogo e la cooperazione progrediscono a un ritmo diverso in funzione delle loro capacità, delle dimensioni (soprattutto nel caso dell'Ucraina) e della situazione. Benché il Belarus sia un caso a parte[7], una cooperazione tecnica sulle questioni relative alle frontiere, all'immigrazione e alla criminalità organizzata è possibile sulla base dei contatti stretti a livello operativo con i funzionari di questo paese e nel quadro del dialogo e dei programmi regionali.

2.2.2. Raccomandazioni

Le relazioni con i singoli paesi sono naturalmente diverse, ma le priorità a breve termine dovrebbero includere gli aspetti esposti in appresso:

- Anche se esiste già il necessario quadro di dialogo a livello bilaterale con ciascuno di questi paesi (eccetto il Belarus), i dibattiti concreti nel contesto dei piani d'azione ENP devono ancora cominciare con l'Armenia, l'Azerbaigian e la Georgia, mentre con la Moldova e l'Ucraina il dialogo esistente è in via d'approfondimento. Benché le relazioni col Belarus siano limitate, dovrebbero essere avviati contatti a livello di esperti sulle questioni relative all'immigrazione. Un tale dialogo è importante anche per affrontare il problema della xenofobia e le sue conseguenze sull'immigrazione e sull'integrazione.

- A livello regionale , nell'affrontare la problematica migratoria e le questioni connesse ci si potrebbe richiamare all'esperienza dei processi di Söderköping e di Budapest. Dovrebbe anche essere rafforzato il sostegno ai paesi partner per migliorarne le capacità di trattare i migranti clandestini conformemente alle norme internazionali. Ciò potrebbe riguardare la detenzione degli immigrati clandestini e le necessità delle vittime di tratta e altre persone vulnerabili, così come le norme internazionali in materia di protezione dei rifugiati che questi paesi sono tenuti a rispettare (in particolare come membri del Consiglio d'Europa). Norme, procedure e prassi effettive in materia di asilo e di protezione dei rifugiati sono peraltro ancora mancanti. I lavori con le organizzazioni competenti dovrebbero essere portati avanti, anche sul reinserimento delle persone rimpatriate.

- Nella promozione di un approccio globale alla migrazione, la regione del Mar Nero è di particolare importanza per quanto attiene alla migrazione di transito e alla tratta degli esseri umani. Ispirandosi alle strutture di cooperazione esistenti nel Baltico, dovrebbe essere studiata la fattibilità di una piattaforma di cooperazione regionale, che riunirebbe gli Stati membri UE interessati, agenzie UE, altri paesi sul Mar Nero e organizzazioni regionali quali SECI, BSEC, la task force del Mar Baltico sulla criminalità organizzata (TF-OC) e il Forum del Mar Nero, ai fini di una migliore gestione della migrazione. In tale contesto potrebbe essere promosso lo scambio di informazioni e il coordinamento delle attività di pattugliamento e di sorveglianza. Il contributo UE può andare dalla formazione (gemellaggio) di funzionari delle autorità di contrasto a una cooperazione con FRONTEX ed Europol, e da settori come la protezione sociale e la formazione di funzionari competenti per le questioni occupazionali al reinserimento delle vittime della tratta.

- Come ha spiegato la Commissione nella comunicazione del dicembre 2006, la mobilità delle persone è di estrema importanza per i partner della ENP come per l'UE se si vuole realizzare pienamente questa priorità di politica estera. La Commissione ha pertanto invitato a "un'analisi approfondita onde semplificare le procedure in materia di visti per ridurre gli ostacoli ai viaggi legittimi dai paesi limitrofi verso l'UE (e viceversa) […] in un contesto più ampio riguardante [questioni GLS correlate]". Vanno di conseguenza presi in considerazione partenariati per la mobilità con questi paesi, incluse in particolare possibilità di facilitazione del rilascio dei visti , permessi di soggiorno, e possibilità di informazioni relative al fabbisogno di manodopera stagionale nell'UE. Dovrebbe essere esaminata prioritariamente la fattibilità di un tale partenariato, fra l'altro, con l'Ucraina.

- Dovrebbero essere inoltre concesse facilitazioni per il rilascio dei visti anche a fini non occupazionali (ad es. viaggi d'affari, d'istruzione e turistici), e in caso di spostamenti di funzionari per la partecipazione a riunioni riguardanti le riforme, come già prevede l'Istruzione consolare comune. La Commissione raccomanda ora vivamente di agire in questo senso soprattutto negli Stati membri in cui si svolge la maggior parte delle riunioni di questo tipo (cioè quelli che ospitano le istituzioni UE o in cui viene esercitata la Presidenza dell'Unione). La Commissione auspica soprattutto che ciò avvenga, con effetto immediato, per le persone che partono in missione per l'UE (e rappresentano una percentuale molto bassa delle domande di visto), per le quali fornirà lettere di raccomandazione alle Ambasciate o ai Consolati degli Stati membri interessati, proseguendo con questi i lavori in tal senso.

- Importanti in questa regione sono anche le rimesse degli emigrati : l'Armenia, la Georgia, la Moldova e l'Ucraina sono fra i paesi al mondo che più dipendono da questi invii di risorse. Dovrebbero essere esaminate possibilità di ridurre i costi di queste operazioni e di rafforzare il loro impatto sullo sviluppo del paese d'origine (si ricordi che le rimesse hanno carattere privato). Vanno inoltre sostenute azioni volte a stimolare lo sviluppo socioeconomico di questi paesi, frenando la fuga di cervelli, facilitando il ritorno volontario delle persone (altamente) qualificate e incitando le grandi comunità di immigrati a contribuire allo sviluppo del loro paese d'origine. Dovrebbero essere altresì incoraggiate le iniziative volte a stabilire contatti fra i migranti altamente qualificati come i ricercatori scientifici e i loro paesi d'origine.

- Occorre considerare con attenzione la conclusione di accordi di riammissione . Un accordo di questo tipo è già stato siglato con l'Ucraina. Per l'accordo con la Moldova sono stati completati i negoziati allo scopo di consentirne al più presto, nel corso del 2007, l'entrata in vigore. Andrebbe presa in considerazione in futuro anche la possibilità di avviare negoziati con gli altri paesi. Per quanto riguarda quelli che hanno già concluso tali accordi con l'UE, occorrerebbe concentrarsi sulla loro capacità di applicare tali strumenti e incoraggiarli a stringere accordi analoghi con i loro vicini orientali e sudorientali.

- Anche se già oggetto di un sostegno comunitario considerevole, il rafforzamento delle capacità di questi paesi andrebbe ancora accentuato, per quanto riguarda la gestione delle frontiere (o le attività di contrasto in generale) o l'intensificazione della loro reciproca cooperazione (l'Ucraina deve chiaramente affrontare sfide particolari legate alla sua posizione geografica, alle sue dimensioni e alla natura dei suoi controlli di frontiera; il Belarus ha manifestato interesse per la cooperazione in materia di protezione delle frontiere e di lotta alla criminalità organizzata, mentre il lavoro concreto di lotta contro i traffici provenienti da questo paese potrebbe essere ulteriormente rafforzato). L'EUBAM, la missione UE di assistenza alle frontiere fra la Moldova e l'Ucraina, è un valido esempio. Queste iniziative devono essere coerenti con gli impegni in corso di lotta contro la corruzione e la criminalità organizzata.

- Occorrerebbe forse attirare maggiormente l'attenzione sulle lacune che accusano i quadri legislativi e istituzionali e le capacità di questi paesi di raccogliere dati e controllare i flussi migratori. Potrebbe essere fornita un' assistenza tecnica adeguata, ad esempio, per quanto riguarda la sicurezza dei documenti di viaggio, dei permessi di soggiorno, dei visti adesivi, così come dei sistemi di informazione civili su cui si basano tali documenti. Per il miglioramento della sicurezza dei documenti va fatto ricorso agli ultimi sviluppi nell'utilizzo dei dati biometrici. L'assistenza tecnica potrebbe inoltre includere la creazione di centri specifici d'informazione sul lavoro, di formazione e di istruzione.

2.3. Federazione Russa

2.3.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo

La graduale evoluzione della "road map" dello spazio comune di libertà, sicurezza e giustizia, del maggio 2005, si svolge nell'ambito dell'accordo di partenariato e cooperazione UE-Russia. Il Consiglio di partenariato permanente UE-Russia in materia di Giustizia e Affari interni si riunisce due volte all'anno per monitorare la realizzazione generale di questo spazio comune. Ha luogo inoltre un dialogo informale e si tengono riunioni di esperti. Il partenariato strategico si fonda su valori comuni che costituiscono la base delle relazioni UE-Russia e sono sanciti nell'accordo di partenariato e cooperazione e nella "road map". Essi prevedono espressamente il rafforzamento della cooperazione nel rispetto dei diritti dell'uomo e delle libertà fondamentali negli Stati membri dell'UE e in Russia, paese che, in quanto membro del Consiglio d'Europa, è tenuto a rispettare le disposizioni contenute nella Convenzione europea sui diritti dell'uomo.

2.3.2. Raccomandazioni

Dopo la disgregazione dell'URRS la Russia è diventata un'importante destinazione per i rifugiati e i migranti economici degli Stati vicini, e conta un alto numero di sfollati al suo stesso interno. Recentemente è diventata anche uno dei principali paesi di transito dei movimenti migratori provenienti soprattutto dal sud-est asiatico, dalla Cina e dall'Afghanistan verso l'Europa occidentale. La cooperazione con la Russia in materia di politica migratoria e circolazione delle persone è pertanto di crescente importanza.

- È necessario approfondire un ampio dialogo con la Russia su tutte le questioni legate all'immigrazione, fra cui l'asilo, la lotta contro l'immigrazione clandestina e la tratta degli esseri umani, la migrazione a scopi occupazionali e tutti gli aspetti sociali rilevanti del fenomeno migratorio. Sarebbe particolarmente utile promuovere lo scambio di esperienze fra gli Stati membri dell'UE e la Russia sulla gestione della migrazione per motivi di lavoro.

- Dovrebbe essere intensificata l'attuazione delle priorità definite dalla "road map" per lo spazio comune , in particolare lo scambio di informazioni sulle politiche di gestione dell'immigrazione e di buone prassi, compresa la valutazione delle statistiche, e se del caso la cooperazione con i paesi terzi. In questo contesto andrebbe incoraggiata la cooperazione fra le autorità responsabili degli accordi di riammissione e di facilitazione del visto , con un serrato monitoraggio del processo di attuazione, per contribuire a una lotta più efficace contro l'immigrazione clandestina facilitando al tempo stesso i contatti fra le persone. Inoltre, nell'ambito dello spazio comune, è stato avviato un dialogo per esaminare a quali condizioni poter introdurre, come obiettivo a lungo termine, l'esenzione dal visto. Questo nuovo quadro potrebbe essere utilizzato per esaminare modi per intensificare le relazioni in altre aree connesse all'immigrazione.

- Le preoccupazioni suscitate dalla legislazione russa d'attuazione della Convenzione del 1951 sui rifugiati devono essere affrontate rafforzando la cooperazione in materia d' asilo con la Federazione Russa. Occorre inoltre migliorare la protezione degli sfollati all'interno del paese conformemente alle norme internazionali, anche, in particolare, per evitare pressioni sui sistemi d'asilo dei paesi vicini.

- Dovrebbe essere promosso lo scambio di informazioni sui quadri legislativi per tutte le forme di tratta degli esseri umani , anche nell'ambito della TF-OC. Dovrebbe essere intensificata, in particolare, l'applicazione dell'accordo di cooperazione Europol-Russia del 2003 relativo alla lotta contro le varie forme di attività criminose a carattere transnazionale . Occorre continuare a sostenere il lavoro della TF-OC nella lotta contro la tratta degli esseri umani come strumento per migliorare la cooperazione multidisciplinare a livello regionale fra le autorità di contrasto nella regione del Mar Baltico, in particolare con la Federazione Russa. Dovrebbero essere esplorati i modi per rafforzare il ruolo di Europol e FRONTEX nella regione del Mar Baltico.

- Importante è infine un'effettiva cooperazione operativa, quale prevista dal mandato, fra FRONTEX e il servizio delle guardie di frontiera russe, in particolare per promuovere le buone prassi nella gestione delle frontiere.

3. Altre aree

3.1. Paesi partner dell'ENP nel Mediterraneo orientale (Siria, Libano e Giordania) e altri paesi mediorientali (Iran e Iraq)

3.1.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo

Per quanto riguarda il Libano e la Giordania la problematica dell'immigrazione e le questioni connesse sono discusse negli appositi sottocomitati sull'immigrazione e sugli affari sociali, nel contesto dei rispettivi accordi di associazione e dei piani d'azione ENP. Il paino d'azione del Libano contiene specifici riferimenti alla cooperazione nel campo dell'immigrazione e della gestione delle frontiere, al partenariato con FRONTEX, alla possibilità di una migliore gestione della migrazione a scopi occupazionali e alla facilitazione del rilascio dei visti. Il piano d'azione della Giordania comporta una sezione sulle questioni migratorie che menziona la possibilità di discutere una cooperazione sulla migrazione di transito, l'asilo e i visti. La gestione delle frontiere è un'altra priorità nei piani d'azione di entrambi i paesi. Non vi è un dialogo ufficiale bilaterale con la Siria nel quadro dell'attuale accordo di cooperazione. Il partenariato euromediterraneo, cui partecipano il Libano, la Giordania e la Siria, prevede anche un dialogo regionale sulla migrazione fra l'UE e i paesi partner. Non esiste un quadro di dialogo neanche con l'Iran[8], né un dialogo ufficiale con l'Iraq[9] sulla migrazione e questioni correlate.

3.1.2. Raccomandazioni

- Il dialogo con il Libano e la Giordania sulle questioni relative all’immigrazione, ai visti, all’asilo e alla gestione delle frontiere sarà portato avanti attivamente nel quadro delle rispettive riunioni dei sottocomitati e conformemente alle priorità fissate nei piani d’azione ENP. Per quanto riguarda la Siria, un dialogo bilaterale sull’immigrazione sarà lanciato una volta firmato l’accordo di associazione.

- Data l’importanza crescente dei problemi dei rifugiati in questi paesi, soprattutto in relazione al conflitto in Iraq e al suo impatto sugli Stati vicini, e tenendo conto del fatto che finora la maggior parte dei profughi ha trovato una sistemazione in questi paesi ospitanti (primi fra tutti la Giordania e la Siria, rispettivamente con 750.000 e 1 milione di rifugiati), l’Unione europea deve essere pronta a continuare a offrire supporto e partecipazione alle iniziative rilevanti in materia di cooperazione e dialogo a livello regionale. Nelle relazioni con la Giordania e la Siria, l’Unione europea e i suoi Stati membri dovrebbero continuare a promuovere il crearsi di condizioni che consentano alla comunità internazionale di fornire assistenza umanitaria e protezione internazionale, incluso il sostegno attraverso il reinserimento e altri programmi.

- L’Iran dovrebbe essere incoraggiato a svolgere un ruolo più attivo nella cooperazione con i suoi vicini (in particolare con la Turchia e il Caucaso meridionale, ma anche con il Pakistan e l’Afghanistan) in materia di prevenzione e repressione del traffico di migranti e della tratta degli esseri umani . Potrebbero essere studiate nuove forme di cooperazione concreta a livello tecnico.

- Questi paesi dovrebbero essere altresì incoraggiati a ratificare e ad attuare la Convenzione di Ginevra e l’ UNTOC , e i relativi protocolli aggiuntivi.

3.2. Asia centrale

3.2.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo

La problematica dell’immigrazione e le questioni connesse sono discusse nelle riunioni di sottocomitato nel settore Giustizia e Affari interni previste con il Kazakistan e l’Uzbekistan nel quadro dei rispettivi PCA. Le questioni migratorie sono inoltre discusse in seno al Comitato di cooperazione PCA UE- Kirghizistan. Non vi è ancora, però, un dialogo bilaterale ufficiale con il Turkmenistan e il Tagikistan. Oltre alle riunioni sopra menzionate, fra l’UE e i paesi dell’Asia centrale esiste poi un dialogo regionale sull’immigrazione. Per il futuro, l’Unione europea potrà forse auspicare l'integrazione delle questioni migratorie nel dialogo politico ed economico con questi paesi.

3.2.2. Raccomandazioni

- In materia di gestione delle frontiere potrebbe essere esaminata una cooperazione più approfondita sul modello del progetto BOMCA, o nel quadro di altri progetti in corso nell’ambito della gestione della migrazione a scopi occupazionali .

- Potrebbe essere prevista un’assistenza tecnica affinché i paesi della regione cooperino maggiormente con l’UE, la Turchia e i paesi orientali partner della ENP nel campo della prevenzione dell’immigrazione illegale e della lotta contro il traffico di migranti e la tratta di esseri umani.

- I paesi partner dovrebbero essere altresì incoraggiati a ratificare e ad attuare la Convenzione di Ginevra e l’ UNTOC , e i relativi protocolli aggiuntivi.

3.3. Paesi d’origine asiatici

3.3.1. Attuale quadro di dialogo

Il quadro politico della cooperazione con l’Asia è la comunicazione del 2001 Un quadro strategico per rafforzare le relazioni di partenariato Europa - Asia [10] che prevede il rafforzamento del dialogo e della cooperazione fra l’UE e l’Asia in una serie di settori fra cui la giustizia e gli affari interni, includendo visti, asilo, immigrazione e altre politiche legate alla libera circolazione delle persone, così come la politica sociale e le sfide e le possibilità a livello globale. La Commissione ritiene che il dialogo politico ed economico a livello regionale debba essere intensificato, in sedi quali l’ASEAN e l’ASEM così come bilateralmente.

Per quanto riguarda la Cina, con la Comunità hanno luogo regolarmente consultazioni ad alto livello. Esse vertono su questioni relative alla lotta contro l’immigrazione illegale e la tratta degli esseri umani e si concentrano sullo scambio di informazioni e sulle misure necessarie per instaurare un clima di fiducia. È in questo contesto che vengono scambiate informazioni sulla legislazione adottata dalle due parti e che hanno luogo colloqui esplorativi sulla riammissione, insieme a discussioni sui mezzi legali per recarsi in Europa e per spostarsi all’interno del suo territorio.

3.3.2. Raccomandazioni

Oltre alle questioni legate alle migrazioni e allo sviluppo, nelle relazioni fra l’UE e l’Asia assumono importanza sempre crescente tematiche come i visti, l’asilo, l’immigrazione ed altre politiche legate alla libera circolazione delle persone, in particolare tenuto conto dello sviluppo delle relazioni commerciali, del commercio dei servizi, dell’evoluzione demografica – con un aumento della popolazione nella maggior parte dei paesi asiatici a fronte di un calo demografico in Europa – e della maggiore portata dell’immigrazione per motivi occupazionali e dell'adeguamento fra offerta e domanda di lavoro a livello mondiale in certi settori economici. Ne sono testimonianza l’aumento dell’immigrazione in provenienza da questa regione, l’instaurazione di un dialogo su tali questioni, l’inclusione delle questioni migratorie nei nuovi accordi di cooperazione con i paesi del sud-est asiatico e lo sviluppo di iniziative mondiali come il processo di Bali. Inoltre, alcuni paesi ricevono un’attenzione particolare in virtù della priorità loro accordata dall’UE nel quadro della politica di riammissione. Si tratta dei paesi o delle entità con cui la Comunità ha concluso un accordo di riammissione (Hong Kong, Macao e Sri Lanka), ne sta concludendo uno (Pakistan) o intende negoziarne uno (Cina). L’Unione europea ha anche lanciato un dialogo bilaterale e multilaterale con l’Asia sulle questioni collegate all’immigrazione per motivi di lavoro, come l’occupazione, la politica sociale e l’istruzione. Continuando ad affrontare in primo luogo le cause profonde dell’emigrazione dai paesi di quest’area si raccomandano pertanto le azioni esposte in appresso.

- I negoziati in corso sulla riammissione e le iniziative riguardanti la lotta contro il traffico dei migranti e la tratta degli esseri umani devono continuare a ricevere sostegno.

- A medio termine, il dialogo su tutte le questioni migratorie dovrebbe diventare parte integrante del dialogo politico ed economico con i paesi dell’area. Dovrebbero essere pienamente sfruttate le opportunità di dialogo offerte dall’ASEM e dal suo segretariato virtuale attualmente in via di costituzione per scambiare informazioni e buone prassi sulle questioni migratorie.

- Deve essere preso in considerazione il potenziale rappresentato dalle migrazioni occupazionali dall’Asia. Per l’Unione europea, così come per lo sviluppo socioeconomico degli stessi paesi di questa regione, migliorare la mobilità di certe categorie di persone e gestirla opportunamente può rivelarsi di grande importanza. La migrazione a scopi occupazionali ha costituito una questione centrale del dialogo recentemente instaurato fra l’UE e l’India; con la Cina, per favorire la mobilità, si sono aperte possibilità di ampliare il dialogo, nell’interesse di entrambe le parti, al di là dei problemi attualmente centrali dell’immigrazione illegale e dei flussi turistici. Uno scambio sulla migrazione occupazionale è stato inoltre avviato nel contesto dell’ASEM e si studiano attualmente possibilità di dialogo e cooperazione più stretti con l’ASEAN nell’ambito in oggetto. La Commissione suggerisce pertanto di tastare il terreno con determinati paesi della regione attraverso dei partenariati per la mobilità .

4. Un migliore coordinamento

Si stanno già prendendo iniziative di vario tipo per favorire la gestione dell’immigrazione nelle regioni e paesi vicini e più distanti. Considerato che il valore dell’approccio globale aumenterebbe se fosse garantita maggiore coerenza e complementarità fra tali iniziative, la Commissione propone che gli Stati membri apportino un loro primo contributo aggiungendo all’elenco di tutte le iniziative comunitarie nelle regioni e nei paesi di cui alla presente comunicazione (cfr. l’allegato I) una lista delle loro iniziative nazionali, in modo da poter stabilire un quadro più completo della situazione attuale.

Possono essere inoltre compiuti sforzi supplementari per conoscere l’ampiezza e le caratteristiche dei flussi migratori dall’est e dal sud-est. Le informazioni disponibili non sono sempre assemblate o utilizzate. Diverse organizzazioni possiedono utili informazioni sulle varie aree che rientrano nell’approccio globale in materia di migrazione. Potrebbe essere presa in considerazione un’iniziativa per stabilire una rete di scambio di informazioni fra FRONTEX, EUROPOL, IOM, ICMPD, ILO, diverse agenzie delle Nazioni Unite – UNDP, UNHCR e UNODC in particolare – e altre organizzazioni internazionali e regionali, come la SECI.

Quanto alla tratta degli esseri umani e del traffico di migranti l'entità del fenomeno rende necessario un approccio più coordinato per poter portare avanti iniziative adeguate. Le misure concrete da prendere potrebbero includere l’ampliamento degli inventari delle iniziative esistenti (come già preparati dall’Alleanza per combattere la tratta degli esseri umani), il rafforzamento del dialogo con i paesi terzi sulla promozione di politiche efficaci anti-tratta, e l’attenzione verso questioni specifiche come la protezione delle vittime, in particolare le donne e i bambini. L’Unione europea dovrebbe inoltre prendere in considerazione l’idea di partecipare attivamente ad iniziative in corso a livello mondiale, come il Gruppo di cooperazione inter-agenzia delle Nazioni Unite contro la tratta degli esseri umani (ICAT). Il programma “Prevenzione e lotta contro la criminalità”, recentemente adottato, prevede un sostegno finanziario per i progetti relativi ad ambiti prioritari come la prevenzione, la protezione e l’assistenza alle vittime, l'azione giudiziaria e la condanna degli autori dei reati.

Per quanto riguarda il problema dei flussi di clandestini occorrerebbe conferire a FRONTEX un ruolo più importante, garantendo al tempo stesso coerenza e coordinamento fra le sue attività e la politica generale dell’UE in materia di relazioni esterne. Le priorità geografiche dell’Agenzia per il 2007 comprendono lo sviluppo della cooperazione con la Russia, l’Ucraina, la Moldova, la Georgia, i Balcani occidentali e i paesi asiatici, in particolare la Cina, il Pakistan e l’India. Ora che la strategia e il programma di lavoro di FRONTEX sono stabiliti, occorre dare a questo organismo le risorse necessarie per svolgere efficacemente il suo mandato, e gli Stati membri devono garantire la disponibilità di risorse adeguate per partecipare se necessario alle sue operazioni congiunte e all’analisi di rischio. Si raccomanda anche l’operatività di RABIT alle frontiere orientali e sudorientali. FRONTEX dovrebbe inoltre elaborare metodi di intelligence adeguati per garantire l’affidabilità delle analisi di rischio e dovrebbe anche essere incitato a partecipare a progetti, riunioni, conferenze e formazioni con i paesi terzi.

Un approccio più coordinato è inoltre necessario per poter migliorare la gestione dell’ immigrazione a scopi occupazionali . Le iniziative in questo ambito devono coinvolgere tutti gli attori interessati, in particolare i ministri del commercio, del lavoro e dell’istruzione e le altre parti interessate come i partner sociali. Iniziative concrete dovrebbero valutare e pianificare l'offerta e la domanda globale in funzione dei livelli di qualificazione, e ad affrontare questioni collegate come il riconoscimento delle competenze e delle qualifiche, l'accesso al mercato del lavoro, l'integrazione degli immigrati, la promozione e la facilitazione di nuove forme di migrazione come quella temporanea e quella circolare, e il potenziamento delle capacità dei servizi per l'occupazione nei paesi terzi. Le iniziative devono promuovere un lavoro decoroso per tutti i migranti.

Gli Stati membri dell'UE potrebbero aumentare il numero dei funzionari di collegamento incaricati dell'immigrazione (ILO) nelle aree in oggetto e sviluppare reti ILO per le principali rotte migratorie. La Comunità può contribuire a questi sforzi ricorrendo al Fondo europeo per le frontiere esterne.

La creazione di centri comuni per la presentazione delle domande di visto - come quello aperto in Moldova con la collaborazione di Austria, Ungheria, Lettonia e Slovenia e, prossimamente, Estonia e Danimarca – potrebbe altresì contribuire a ripartire fra gli Stati membri la prestazione di questo servizio. Inoltre, l'introduzione regionale del Sistema di informazione visti potrebbe essere un incentivo per rafforzare la rappresentanza degli Stati membri e la costituzione dei centri comuni per la presentazione delle domande di visto nelle aree in oggetto.

L'Unione europea e i suoi Stati membri stanno intensificando le attività di sostegno ai paesi terzi per una migliore gestione dell'immigrazione. Importante è il ruolo del programma TAIEX , che mette a disposizione dei paesi terzi per brevi periodi gli esperti necessari, anche in altri ambiti GLS. Il suo mandato, tuttavia, è attualmente limitato ai soli paesi candidati e a quelli rientranti nella ENP. Potrebbero essere esaminate in futuro nuove forme di cooperazione.

5. ConclusionE

Le aree orientali e sudorientali vicine all'Unione europea sono importanti dal punto di vista dell'immigrazione, regolare e clandestina, fra i paesi che le compongono e fra questi e l'UE. Il dialogo e la cooperazione sono già molto progrediti con molti degli Stati di queste aree, sopratutto per quanto riguarda la lotta contro l'immigrazione clandestina. Applicare a queste regioni l'approccio globale implica che, nei limiti dei mezzi disponibili, la cooperazione sia ancora più approfondita, equilibrata e ampliata, specie per affrontare in maniera più adeguata questioni come la mobilità e l'influenza del fenomeno migratorio sullo sviluppo: questo affinché l'Unione europea possa acquisire credibilità agli occhi dei partner e passare al successivo stadio della cooperazione.

Come prima fase la Commissione ritiene essenziale che, nelle relazioni fra l'UE e i paesi partner della ENP, il dialogo e gli accordi sulla mobilità siano rafforzati avvalendosi delle sedi di discussione già esistenti. Per realizzare questa priorità dovrebbe essere effettuata una valutazione delle attuali procedure di rilascio dei visti e dovrebbero essere vagliate misure pratiche di agevolazione della mobilità per categorie chiave di viaggiatori ai sensi degli attuali regimi di visto, entro la fine del 2007. Dato lo spostamento dei confini UE in seguito all'allargamento, richiede ora specifica attenzione la promozione della cooperazione regionale con l'area del Baltico e al suo stesso interno, soprattutto per quanto riguarda il controllo delle frontiere e la lotta contro l'immigrazione clandestina. Deve anche continuare ed essere intensificata la cooperazione con la Federazione Russa, e devono altresì essere rafforzati il dialogo e la cooperazione con i paesi e le regioni d'origine situati ancora più ad est.

Fondamentale, nell'applicazione dell'approccio globale a questa aree, è il mantenimento della coerenza e la complementarità con il dialogo già in corso e con le iniziative di cooperazione sulle questioni migratorie e le tematiche connesse già avviate nel contesto generale della politica di relazioni esterne dell'UE. La Commissione, in stretta collaborazione e in coordinamento con gli Stati membri e con tutti gli altri attori interessati, garantirà questa coerenza e complementarità e un follow-up adeguato, se possibile con un calendario, per il coordinamento dell'approccio globale in queste aree.

Annex I: Acronyms and glossary

1. ACRONYMS

ASEAN : Association of South-East Asian Nations

ASEM : Asia-Europe Meeting

BSBCIC : Black Sea Border Coordination and Information Centre

BSEC : Black Sea Economic Cooperation

BOMCA : Border Management in Central Asia

ENP : European Neighbourhood Policy

EUBAM : EU Border Assistance Mission

ICAT : UN Inter-Agency Cooperation Group on Human Trafficking

ICMPD : International Centre for Migration Policy Development

ILO : Immigration Liaison Officer

ILO : International Labour Organization

IOM : International Organisation for Migration

IPA : Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance

MARRI : The Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative

PCA : Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

RABIT : Rapid Border Intervention Team

SAA : Stabilisation and Association Agreement

SECI : South-East European Cooperative Initiative

SEECP : South-East Cooperation Process

STM : Stabilisation and Association Process Tracking Mechanism

TAIEX : Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument

TF-OC : Task Force on Organised Crime in the Baltic Sea Region

UNDP : United Nations Development Programme

UNHCR : United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNODC : United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

UNTOC : UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime

2. GLOSSARY

Asia-Europe Meeting : ASEM is an informal dialogue process initiated in 1996. The EU Member States, the European Commission and thirteen Asian countries (Brunei, Burma/Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) participate in the process. The ASEM 6 Summit held in September 2006 decided to admit India, Mongolia, Pakistan and the ASEAN Secretariat to the ASEM process, upon their completion of the necessary procedures.

Bali Process : brings participants together to work on practical measures to help combat people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crimes in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Initiated at the "Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime" held in Bali in February 2002, the Bali Process follow-up is a collaborative effort participated in by over fifty countries and numerous international agencies.

Budapest Process : a consultative forum of more than fifty Governments from the wider European region and ten international organisations, which aims to promote good governance in the field of migration, a harmonised approach in dealing with irregular migration challenges and support for the transfer and common understanding of migration concepts and policies.

Cooperation platforms on migration and development : A concept proposed in the 2006 Communication on the Global Approach and endorsed by the December European Council. The idea is to bring together migration and development actors in a country or region to manage migration more effectively, in the interests of all, along specific migratory routes. Such platforms would bring together representatives of the country or countries concerned with Member States, the Commission and international organisations.

Global Approach to Migration : brings together migration, external relations and development policy to address migration in an integrated, comprehensive and balanced way in partnership with third countries. It comprises the whole migration agenda, including legal and illegal migration, combating trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants, strengthening protection for refugees, enhancing migrant rights and harnessing the positive links that exist between migration and development. It is underscored by the fundamental principles of partnership, solidarity and shared responsibility and uses the concept of 'migratory routes' to develop and implement policy.

MARRI : an initiative forming part of the South-East European Cooperation Process which aims to enhance regional cooperation. Participating states are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Its regional centre is located in Skopje.

Migration portals : web portals with information about legal migration opportunities and various other aspects of migration. The establishment of these web portals will be financially supported by the new budget line, 'Preparatory Action: Migration management – Solidarity in action'.

Migration profiles : a tool to bring together and analyse all the relevant information needed to develop policy in the field of migration and development and to monitor the impact of policies implemented.

Migration routes initiative : work along the main migratory routes through a particular region and towards the EU is identified and takes into account the need to work in close collaboration with the third countries along these routes.

Mobility partnerships : would provide the overall framework for managing various forms of legal movement between the EU and third countries. Such partnerships would be agreed with those third countries committed to fighting illegal immigration and that have effective mechanisms for readmission. Mobility partnerships are in the process of being developed – see the Communication on Circular migration and mobility partnerships between the European Union and third countries , adopted simultaneously.

Regional networks of ILOs : coordination mechanisms to bring together Immigration Liaison Officers so as to better coordinate and share information at the regional level.

Söderköping Process : supported by the EC, its strategic objective is to facilitate cross-border cooperation between a number of EU Member States, Candidate countries and the countries of Eastern Europe on asylum, migration and border management issues.

Annex II: Examples of EU cooperation with and assistance to countries covered by the Communication

This Annex aims to provide an overview of the cooperation which has been established until now in the field of migration and asylum by the EU and the European and Asiatic countries which are located along the migratory routes on the Eastern and South-Eastern flanks of the EU. The list is indicative and by no means exhaustive.

The Annex presents the projects which have been funded by the European Commission in these countries in the field of asylum, migration, border management and visa policy.

As regards the information included, it should be underlined that:

a) only those projects that were committed through programmes of the previous EU financial framework (2000-2006) are included in the list;

b) projects related to development of border infrastructures or addressing customs services or the police forces generically (not specifically the border police) are not included in the list; and

c) projects addressing the root causes of migration or trafficking in human beings are not listed.

The information presented should be used actively. Other donors can more easily see what the EC has been funding up to now, whereas we stimulate our implementing partners to take this information available on past projects into account when drafting proposals for future activities.

1. Countries in the Eastern and South-Eastern regions neighbouring the EU

1.1 The Western Balkans and Turkey

Regional

Project Name | Establishment of EU compatible legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks in the fields of asylum, migration and visa matters (CARDS/2003/077-352) |

Location | Western Balkans |

Implementation period | January 2004 – February 2006 |

Implementing Partner | Swedish Migration Board, together with ICMPD, IOM, UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 3.000.000 / € 3.000.000 |

Funding Programme | CARDS |

Responsible DG | ELARG |

Description | The objectives of the project were to contribute to a better strategic and technical understanding of EU standards and the best practices in the field of asylum, migration and visa; to support the development of a regional strategy, based upon benchmarks that translate a set of commonly accepted EU technical standards, practices and principles; to contribute in the development of detailed national strategies together with implementation action plans; to contribute to institution and capacity building. The project also promoted the creation of a regional network among the officials in the 5 countries of the region. |

Project Name | Support to and coordination of Integrated Border Management Strategies in the Western Balkans (CARDS/2004/081-242) |

Location | Western Balkans |

Implementation period | January 2005 – April 2007 |

Implementing Partner | France, Austria, OSCE, ICMPD |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.999.984 |

Funding Programme | CARDS |

Responsible DG | ELARG |

Description | The project provided assistance to the countries for the development of their national Integrated Border Management strategies and Action Plans in order to ensure that these are coherent and effectively co-ordinated at the regional level. The project has contributed to this process by raising awareness and understanding of the concepts and relevant EU standards and best practice, as listed in the IBM Guidelines for Western Balkans. The assistance has supported a multidisciplinary approach, including support to border police, customs, veterinary and phyto-sanitary inspection services, as well as to other services involved in border management issues. |

Project Name | Fostering sustainable reintegration in Albania, the Kosovo province and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, by reinforcing local NGO capacity service provision to returnees (2002/HLWG/003) |

Location | Albania, the Kosovo province and the FYR of Macedonia |

Implementation period | November 2003 – November 2005 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 700.759,69 / € 560.607,76 |

Funding Programme | B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | This project focused on new mechanisms and the development of existing ones for return and reintegration through support to local NGOs (service provision and counselling capacities). The IOM offices in Western Europe defined a list of potential returnees and were able to develop a database. The project was then pursued in Albania, Kosovo and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, by workshops for local NGOs. Reintegration services could then be provided: for instance a reintegration package was defined. Another component of the project was the development of different campaigns to raise public awareness of the targeted areas. |

Project Name | Network of immigration liaison officers (ILO) in the Western Balkans (Albania and surrounding region) (2002/HLWG/013) |

Location | Albania and surrounding region |

Implementation period | November 2002 –December 2003 |

Implementing Partner | Commissariaat General - Beleid Internationale Politiesamenverking, Belgium |

Budget/EC contribution | € 729.500 / € 429.750 |

Funding Programme | B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | This project implemented by the Belgian authorities aimed at creating an Immigration Liaison Officers’ network (ILO) in the Western Balkans in order to structure and consolidate exchange of information and possible co-operation between the ILOs in the Western Balkans as well as with other important partners and local authorities. The added value of this project was the possible harmonisation of activities, the updated knowledge and the definition of policy guidelines in this field in the Western Balkans. |

Project Name | Promoting regular migration in the Western Balkans through establishment of regional migrant service centres providing information and migration related services” (2003/HLWG/051) |

Location | Western Balkans |

Implementation period | December 2004 – June 2006 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 815.119,64 / € 652.095,71 |

Funding Programme | B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | The aim was to promote orderly labour migration flows and related awareness-raising through the creation of the first regional network of Migration Services Centres (MSCs) in the Western Balkans. The project contributed to establish and run 6 MSCs (Skopje, Prishtina, Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo, and Tirana, the last one having been created before the project and representing a model for the others) and a website, through which not only would be migrants, but also people interested to return and reintegration, were provided counselling. |

Project Name | Training Action for the Balkans: Three intensive seminars on Asylum and International Protection for 120 civil servants (2005/103474) |

Location | Western Balkans |

Implementation period | December 2005 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | ERA- Académie de Droit Européen |

Budget/EC contribution | € 641.643 / € 512.617 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Three seminars, one week each, will give a general overview of all the issues related to the migration and asylum, in particular: legal migration; dialogue on migratory flows; readmission and reintegration of the returnees; illegal migration. |

Project Name | Strong Institutions and a Unified Approach in the Asylum, Migration and Visa Management in the Western Balkans (2006/120-144) |

Location | Western Balkans |

Implementation period | January 2007 – October 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Migrationsverket |

Budget/EC contribution | € 625.000 / € 500.000 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | A better management of all aspects of migration flows in the region by regulating and facilitating legal migration and curbing illegal migration in the Western Balkan Countries. |

Project Name | Development of communication and information exchange systems on illegal migration in the Western Balkan region (2006/120-275) |

Location | Western Balkans |

Implementation period | January 2007 – June 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Hungary - Office of EU Co-ordination and ICMPD |

Budget/EC contribution | € 625.000 / € 500.000 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | To assist the five SAp countries in the WB region in their efforts to developing a system for exchanging communication and information on illegal migration, and more particularly focussed on the preparation of the WB countries to the use of ICONET system and to the participation in the CIREFI group. |

Albania

Project Name | National Strategy on Migration (CARDS/2003/71910) |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | September 2003 – July 2005 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.249.989 / € 1.000.000 |

Funding Programme | CARDS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Tirana |

Description | The project addressed the need for reform in the field of migration management in Albania through the development of a national strategy on migration. |

Project Name | 'Establishment of EU compatible legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks? '(CARDS) |

Location | Albania |

Funding Programme | CARDS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Tirana |

Description | CARDS 2002-3 promoted the establishment of EU compatible legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks in the fields of asylum, migration and visa matters. |

Project Name | Sustainable return, reintegration and development in Albania through consolidated preparatory actions for migration management (2001/HLWG/102) |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | April 2002 – December 2003 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 835.885,00 / € 635.883 |

Funding Programme | HLWG – B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | This project aimed to develop and strengthen regional capacities to manage irregular migration flows into, through and from Albania. This has been achieved by establishing the necessary mechanisms to facilitate the voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of 175 victims of trafficking and illegal migrants stranded in Albania in their countries of origin such as Turkey, Moldova and Ukraine. The project was instrumental for the establishment of a National Reception Centre (NRC). It served as a preparatory measure working towards the long-term development of a sustainable migration management system. |

Project Name | Upgrading the border control system of Albania along European standards (2001/HLWG/124) |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | December 2001 – April 2003 |

Implementing Partner | ICMPD |

Budget/EC contribution | € 551.649,43 / € 441.320 |

Funding Programme | HLWG – B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | This project aimed to develop a blueprint for a border guarding system and a master plan for its realisation. In order to achieve these goals, ICMPD worked closely with the Albanian authorities to establish an International Border Guarding Task Force. The project also elaborated jointly with the Albanian authorities an action plan which was the basis for later funding by the programme CARDS, thanks to the blueprint of the Albanian border system provided. |

Project Name | Developing of the asylum system in Albania (2001/HLWG/127 and 2004/81185) |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | January 2002 – June 2006 |

Implementing Partner | UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 764.438, 87 / € 732.088 (B7-667) €2.000.000 / € 2.000.000 (2004/81185) |

Funding Programme | HLWG – B7-667 CARDS |

Responsible DG | JLS and EC DEL Tirana |

Description | The overall objective of these projects was to set up a functioning and effective mechanism for asylum and refugee protection in Albania. This projects work along the lines of a three-stage process: pre-procedure (access), procedure (refugee status determination) and post-procedure (durable solutions). In term of access to the asylum system, fair and efficient procedures for the border regime, consistent with International and European protection standards, are being developed and implemented. |

Project Name | Migrant Service Centres (CARDS) |

Location | Albania |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Funding Programme | CARDS 2003 |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Tirana |

Description | Migrant Service Centers were established providing information and migration related service in particular to improve management of labour migration towards Italy. |

Project Name | “Combating irregular migration in Albania and the wider region; Targeted support to capacity building within the framework of readmission support to Albania” (2003/HLWG/055) |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | December 2004 – June 2006 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 882.345,45; EU grant: € 705.876,36 |

Funding Programme | HLWG – B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | Relevant Albanian authorities received information on the EU best practices related to management of apprehended illegal migrants, received training (including on foreign languages), were adviced regarding the standards to be respected for the establishement of a reception center for illegal migrants in Albania, for the handling of the latter and for their repatriation to their home countries. |

Project Name | Implementation of the readmission agreement (CARDS) |

Location | Albania |

Budget/EC contribution | € 2.000.000 |

Funding Programme | CARDS 2004 |

Responsible DG | ELARG |

Project Name | Building a Mechanism to effectively and sustainable implement readmission agreements between Albania, the EC and third countries (2005/103499) |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | December 2005 – April 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation of the Hellenic Republic; IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.818.460 / € 1.454.768 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project supported Albania to identify and manage the return of third country returned illegal migrants and to help reintegration of returned Albanians. |

Project Name | W.A.R.M. (2005/103559) |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Comune di Roma |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.519.207 / € 1.215.196 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Reintegration of Albanian returnees through their insertion on labour market and through micro-enterprises creation. |

Project Name | ALBAMAR (2005/103632) |

Location | Albania and Morocco |

Implementation period | December 2005 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.668.216 / € 1.334.572 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Definition and implementation of an integrated support to Moroccan and Albanian migrants forcedly or voluntarily repatriated from Italy that are highly exposed to the risks of illegal migration and criminal activities |

Project Name | Former et créer un réseau institutionnel pour l’identification, l’accueil et l’intégration durable des personnes en retour |

Location | Albania |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Associazione Centro Europa Per La Scuola Educazione E Societa-Ceses |

Budget/EC contribution | € 834.551 / € 652.443 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Soutenir les institutions albanaises dans le processus de création d’un système efficace de gestion des flux des personnes en retour visé à la mise en œuvre de l’accord de réadmission avec la CE et à l'élimination des causes de l'émigration illégal. |

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Project Name | Support to Migration Management Capacities (2003/72875 and 2005/115633) |

Location | Bosnia and Herzegovina |

Implementation period | November 2003 – January 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 870.000 / € 870.000 (2003/72875) € 1.200.000 / € 1.200.000(2005/115633) |

Funding Programme | CARDS 2003 and 2005 |

Responsible DG | DEL Bosnia and Herzegovina |

Description | These projects aim at ensuring that the Sector for Immigration and Asylum, established within the Ministry of Security have administrative and procedural capacity that will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to effectively manage population movements, and develop a migration policy for Bosnia and Herzegovina that will be coordinated by the Ministry of Security and regularly reviewed; to ensure that management structures necessary for the effective implementation of migration policies and legislation, in line with the EU standards and practices are developed; to strengthen the legislative basis for the management of migration processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina by developing new legislation and by-laws and consolidating existing legislation and procedures in line with EU standards and practices and other international norms; to establish a Migration Information System that will allow the Ministry of Security to collect and analyze information about non-citizens that will be used to develop migration policy, visa requirements and improve legislation and procedures. |

Project Name | Support to Asylum Management Capacities (2003/072-091 and 2005/109048) |

Location | Bosnia and Herzegovina |

Implementation period | October 2003 – June 2007 |

Implementing Partner | UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.000.000 / € 1.000.000 (2003/072-091) € 800.000 / € 800.000 (2005/109048) |

Funding Programme | CARDS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Sarajevo |

Description | These projects have the following key objective: to establish a clearly identified and independent authority, as a competent “asylum unit” within the competent ministry, with responsibility for examining requests for refugee status and taking decisions on refugee status in the first instance. |

Project Name | Strengthening the protection of asylum seekers (2005/103661) |

Location | Bosnia and Herzegovina |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | VASA PRAVA – Bosnia and Herzegovina |

Budget/EC contribution | € 856.932,56 / € 616.562,98 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Ensuring a maximum protection and access to justice for asylum seekers, recognized refugees and other categories of persons under international protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and victims of human trafficking, ensuring the full access to their rights via the provision of free legal aid and information campaigns. |

Project Name | Support to EU support for the implementation of the Integrated Border Management Strategy for Bosnia and Hezegovina (2006/120289) |

Location | Bosnia and Herzegovina |

Implementation period | May 2006 – April 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.018.016 / € 1.000.000 |

Funding Programme | CARDS |

Responsible DG | DEL Bosnia and Herzegovina |

Description | EU support to the Indirect Taxation Agency (ITA), State Border Service, Veterinary and phyto-sanitary and market inspectorates by providing training, study tours and workshops, revision of legislation, and setting up a joint analysis centre. |

Croatia

Project Name | Protection of Asylum seekers in the Republic of Croatia and Regio (2005/103578) |

Location | Croatia |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Croatian Law Centre |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.274.842,27 / € 1.000.000 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Strengthening the protection in CRO and region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro) by developing asylum system consistent with international standards. |

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Project Name | Enhancement of the asylum management system (2003/01/08) |

Location | The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |

Implementation period | April 2006 – December 2006 |

Implementing Partner | Transtec (BE) |

Budget/EC contribution | € 160.000 / € 160.000 |

Funding Programme | CARDS 2003 |

Responsible DG | ELARG |

Description | The programme provides short-term technical assistance in the field of asylum regarding the definition of operational procedures on asylum and the design of an IT platform for the relevant line ministries. The aim of the project is to enhance the asylum management system in the country. |

Project Name | Construction of reception centre for asylum seekers (2002/01/14) |

Location | The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |

Implementation period | February 2005 – December 2006 |

Implementing Partner | GD Granit AD Skopje (MK) |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.850.000 / € 1.850.000 |

Funding Programme | CARDS 2002 |

Responsible DG or EC Delegation | ELARG |

Description | The project aims to construct a reception centre for asylum seekers. The centre will be located in the vicinity of Skopje and will have an administrative building for registration and administration of asylum seekers and several buildings for hosting asylum seekers. It will be able to host up to 150 persons, but the design includes possible future extension for up to 300 people. |

Project Name | Development of immigration and asylum strategy, legislation and action plan (2002/01/14; 2003/01/08) |

Location | The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |

Implementation period | February 2004 – December 2005 |

Implementing Partner | Charles Kendall & Partners Ltd (UK); B&S Europe (BE) |

Budget/EC contribution | € 160.000 / € 160.000 – CARDS 2002; € 1.000.000 / € 1.000.000 – CARDS 2003 |

Funding Programme | CARDS 2002 - 2003 |

Responsible DG or EC Delegation | ELARG |

Description | The programme provided technical assistance and training to develop and implement the National Action Plan for Migration and Asylum. The TA team also provided amendments to primary and secondary legislation pertaining to the new Law on Asylum as well as assisted in the development of the new Law on the Movement and Residence of Foreigners. In the framework of the programme, a new project proposal has been launched that will look into the enhancement of the asylum management system in the country. |

Serbia[11]

Project Name | Building an Asylum structure in Serbia and Montenegro (2003/HLWG/046) |

Location | Serbia and Montenegro |

Implementation period | October 2004 – October 2006 |

Implementing Partner | UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 762.936,02 / € 530.890,77 |

Funding Programme | B7-667 - HLWG |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | This UNHCR project was designed to assist the authorities in setting up an asylum structure. This implies defining competencies and responsibilities on asylum within the current constitutional framework; Adopting an asylum law at the state level; Putting a functioning body in charge of asylum seekers and refugees; Setting up a fair RSD (Refugee Determination Status) process; Establishing reception centres. The project target is to set up the initial phases of a functioning protection mechanism; a first step, which targets the achievement of the adoption of Refugee legislation and the establishment of reception centres. In March 2005, the asylum law of the SGC at the state level was adopted, but remains incomplete, despite active lobbying during the formulation of the law. Negotiations on defining the best location for the reception centres in Serbia and in Montenegro are ongoing. The target is to have a centre in Serbia with a capacity of accommodating 200 people and of 110 people minimum in Montenegro. |

Project Name | Building an Asylum structure in Serbia and Montenegro (2005/103439) |

Location | Serbia and Montenegro |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 872.507,41 / € 698.005,92 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Continuation of assistance to Serbia and Montenegro to develop their asylum structures. |

Project Name | Employed, Empowered – Serbia (2006/120-073) |

Location | Serbia |

Implementation period | November 2006 – November 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Stichting Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe |

Budget/EC contribution | € 699.834 / € 559.867 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The specific objective of the project is to support the durable reintegration of refugees, IDPs and returnees into society by researching solutions enabling them to build up sustainable livelihoods for themselves. |

Project Name | Support to the process of readmission through sustainable reintegration of returnees from Western Europe to Serbia and Montenegro (2006/120-168) |

Location | Serbia and Montenegro |

Implementation period | January 2006 – June 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Kentro Anaptyxis kai Ekpaidefsis Evropaiki Prooptiki |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.750.404,66 / €1.339.059,56 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Overall objective of the action is support to the process of readmission through sustainable reintegration of returnees from Western Europe to Serbia and Montenegro. |

Turkey

Project Name | Support to the Turkish Immigration authorities in the area of asylum (2001/HLWG/115) |

Location | Turkey |

Implementation period | June 2002- November 2004 |

Implementing Partner | Bundesamt für die Anerkennung ausländischer Flüchtlinge (BAFL), Germany. |

Budget/EC contribution | € 577.800, 50 / € 457.628,00 |

Funding Programme | B7-667 – HLWG |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | The aim of this project implemented by the German Bundesamt für die Anerkennung ausländischer Flüchtlinge (BAFL) was to promote partnership with Turkey on migration policy in order to contribute to a better control and prevention of migration flows and to help to combat illegal migration by establishing an effective asylum system. It helped to develop an efficient and balanced migration administration in all fields, in particular the development and establishment of an asylum system, corresponding to the EU acquis. This project has also contributed to a certain extent to the progress in the planning of the new national asylum system and implementation of the EU acquis. |

Project Name | Development of the asylum system in Turkey (2001/HLWG/126 and 2002/HLWG/031) |

Location | Turkey |

Implementation period | April 2002 – May 2005 |

Implementing Partner | UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 969.417.47; € 775.533.98 (2001/HLWG/126) € 900.420,73 / € 596.800,00 (2002/HLWG/031) |

Funding Programme | B7-667 – HLWG |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | The project initially focused on reinforcing the UNHCR branch to carry out the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and building an information system. It also commissioned studies on the best practice of countries that could be a model for Turkey, organised training of officials and strengthened the temporary procedure. It enabled the reduction of the back-log in the management of asylum files and enhanced co-operation between EU MS officials and Turkish officials. The second project covered needs for infrastructure, training and information and aimed at to strengthening the asylum procedure, train government officials and disseminate best practices. It also looked for a deeper involvement of the civil society. |

Project Name | Refugee Support Program – Turkey (2006/120-126) |

Location | Turkey |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2009 |

Implementing Partner | Helsinki Yurttaslar Dernegi |

Budget/EC contribution | € 732.340,36 / € 585.854,11 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The Refugee Support Program” of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly aims to develop legislation and national practices as regards international protection and asylum in Turkey, ensuring observance of the principle of "non refoulement" and to improve Turkey's capacity to cope with asylum seekers and refugees. Within this broader objective, the specific objective of the action is to improve asylum seekers' and refugees' access to international protection by improving their reception and detention conditions in Turkey through the provision of comprehensive legal and psychological services; public legal education and refugee empowerment; capacity building for civil society organizations, professionals and government agencies; and lobbying for progressive change in law and policy reflecting refugee rights under EC and international law. |

Project Name | Pilot Refugee Application Centre (PRAC) and Screening Unit (SU) (2006/120281) |

Location | Turkey |

Implementation period | January 2007 – June 2009 |

Implementing Partner | Immigration and Naturalisation Service the Netherlands |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.753.806 / € 997.915,61 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Implementation of the National Action Plan on asylum and migration. Specific objective: The setting up of a Pilot Refugee Application Centre in Konya including a Screening Unit in Van. |

1.2 European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries in Eastern Europe and the Southern Caucasus

Regional Eastern Europe

Project Name | Dialogue and Technical capacity building in migration management: Central Asia, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan (2002/ HLWG/004) |

Location | Central Asia, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan |

Implementation period | March 2003 – September 2005 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.488.765,15 / € 1.210.654 |

Funding Programme | B7-667 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project aimed at fostering the dialogue between the Russian Federation and the Central Asiatic Republics, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the field of border and migration management. Meetings between officers of the involved countries, and a study tour, aimed at facilitating coordination, at sharing information and disseminating best practices were organised. Some focus was also placed on improving the management of some segments of the Russian-Kazakh border, where some equipment was delivered and a study tour was organised. The project also assisted the voluntary repatriation of some migrants. |

Project Name | Re-direction of the Budapest process activities to the CIS region (2003/HLWG/064 ) |

Location | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan |

Implementation period | March 2004 – July 2005 |

Implementing Partner | ICMPD |

Budget/EC contribution | € 760.383,60 / € 587.183,96 |

Funding Programme | B7-667 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | This project's aim was to collect in a comprehensive and comparable manner information and analysis of irregular flows of migration within, from and through the CIS region. The project sought also to establish a network of senior officials dealing with irregular migration, in order to pave the way for a structured dialogue in the CIS region. The CIS countries are now brought into the framework of the Budapest process and are more aware of migration policies in the EU, by attending conferences with officials from other CIS countries, the EU Member States, the European Commission and international organisations. |

Project Name | Towards sustainable partnerships for the effective governance of labour migration in the Russian Federation, the Caucasus and Central Asia (2006/120-072) |

Location | Russian Federation, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan |

Implementation period | December 2006 – December 2009 |

Implementing Partner | ILO - International Labour Organization |

Budget/EC contribution | € 2.433.508 / € 1.945.105 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project focuses on key labour migration issues that are rising quickly on political agendas there and are essential components for stability and sustainable and equitable economic growth. There are five specific objectives: (1) To develop practical methods for assessing and forecasting labour market requirements with a view to improving migration governance; (2) to promote decent work and enhance the protection of migrant workers’ rights; (3) to develop a system of earned regularisation and introduce sound regularisation policies and procedures; (4) to contribute to the productive utilization of the region’s human resources by developing systems for the portability of qualifications and reducing bureaucratic obstacles to recruitment; and (5) to develop policies that enhance the positive impact of migration on development in origin countries. |

Project Name | The East-Central European Cross Border Co-operation Enhancement process (The Söderköping Process) (2003/HLWG/009 and 2005/103489) |

Location | Belarus , Moldova, Ukraine |

Implementation period | May 2004 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Swedish Migration Board, UNHCR, IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 997.500 / € 762.488,00 (2003/HLWG/009) € 1.634.873,16 / € 1.307.898,40 (2005/103489) |

Funding Programme | B7-667 – HLWG and AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | JLS and EuropeAid |

Description | This process provides training and a forum for comparing national experiences and disseminating best practices and for peer pressure mainly, but not exclusively, on asylum management, between WNIS countries, some EU MSs (with the Swedish Migration Board in a leading role), the UNHCR and the IOM. A Secretariat is now based in Kyiv. |

Project Name | The protection of refugees asylum seekers and forced migrants (2005/103619) |

Location | Belarus , Moldova, Ukraine, Russia |

Implementation period | December 2005 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | European Council on Refugees and Exiles - ECRE |

Budget/EC contribution | € 705.331 / € 529.705 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Improve the implementation in Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia of national and international refugee and human rights instruments – leading to increased security and protection for refugees. |

Project Name | Elimination of human trafficking from Moldova and Ukraine through labour market based measures (2006/120-079) |

Location | Moldova and Ukraine |

Implementation period | November 2006 – October 2008 |

Implementing Partner | ILO and ICMPD |

Budget/EC contribution | € 935.615,97 / € 748.492,78 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project offers a long-term perspective against trafficking in human beings in Moldova and Ukraine by addressing gaps in the current implementation of National Action Plans against Human Trafficking (NAP). Designed to strengthen national capacity in implementing NAP, this proposal aims in particular to involve labour market actors in prevention, reintegration and prosecution activities. The purpose is not only to support the prosecution and assistance to victims but also in particular to increase transparency, fairness and efficiency in the labour market as concerns job placements. |

Project Name | Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Ukraine and Moldova (2006/120-250) |

Location | Moldova and Ukraine |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 2.160.346,02 / € 1.728.276,82 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | IOM will run 6 shelters for victims, promote information campaigns with focus on schools, carry out training for law enforcement agencies, including judges, and facilitate their cooperation with NGOs. |

Belarus

Project Name | Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in the Republic of Belarus (2002/29979) |

Location | Belarus |

Implementation period | September 2002 – November 2005 |

Implementing Partner | UNDP |

Budget/EC contribution | € 900.000 / € 900.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The project contributed to the fight against trafficking in human beings in Belarus. |

Project Name | Enhancing Border Management in Belarus - BOMBEL 1 (2005/100-530) & BOMBEL 2 (2006/104-281) |

Location | Belarus |

Implementation period | March 2005 – December 2006 September 2006 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | UNDP |

Budget/EC contribution | € 4.721.000 / € 4.500.000 (BOMBEL 1) € 9.066.000 / € 8.800.000 (BOMBEL 2) |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | Through the projects the EC funds a number of study visits and trainings and seminars which are organised with the involvement of EU MSs experts. Two European standard accommodation centres for irregular migrants (in Brest and in Pinsk) and a separate one for asylum seekers in the city of Pinsk have been / will be established, a dog training centre has been upgraded and equipped with modern technology, and various border control and surveillance equipment has been supplied. Furthermore the BOMBEL projects aim at modernising the equipment used by border troops in compliance with the EU standards, through the provision of computer-aided equipment and technology, motor-cars and lorries; engineering, technical, communication, radiation-measuring and other pieces of equipment; communication instrument, with the aim in particular of increasing the mobility of border troops along the green border and their capacity of surveillance on trains and at the border posts. |

Project Name | Strengthening Migration Management in Belarus - MIGRABEL (2006/104300) |

Location | Belarus |

Implementation period | June 2006 – May 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 775.000 / € 700.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | Through this project the EC is contributing to establishing a travel document issuing and control system which will meet latest international standards and comply with biometric requirements. Moreover, a national database will be developed and will be able to store and process biometric data. Beneficiaries are the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Border Guard Committee. |

Project Name | Strengthening Protection Capacity in Belarus (2006/120221) |

Location | Belarus |

Implementation period | December 2006 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 719.628,50 / € 575.702,80 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The overall objective of the action is to facilitate the development of the asylum system in Belarus. The specific objective is to develop an effective referral system in order to ensure the respect of the principle of non-refoulement. |

Additionally, under CBC 2006 Budget, Belarus is supposed to receive an additional €14 million assistance aimed at improving border controls through provision of equipment for border surveillance and the establishment of fibre optic cable networks to central authorities and between selected border crossing points. This latter component will facilitate smooth border and customs clearance thus reducing waiting hours at border crossing points and at the same time ensuring and improving security controls through modern data networks and/or control equipment. Furthermore technical assistance will also be offered, possibly through a twinning.

Moldova

Project Name | Combating trafficking in women (2002/30263) |

Location | Moldova |

Implementation period | September 2002 – June 2004 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 600.000 / € 600.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | This project aimed at providing law enforcement agencies with technical support and training as well as promoting cross-border cooperation, raising awareness among potential victims about the risks of being trafficked, assisting the actual victims by facilitating repatriation, offering medical and psychological cares and hospitality in a shelter. |

Project Name | Capacity building and technical cooperation for Moldovan border officials (TACIS/2003/077575) |

Location | Moldova |

Implementation period | December 2003 – November 2005 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.100.000 / € 900.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | This project aimed at providing training, technical assistance, and supply of equipment to border guards and other border officials in Moldova, with a particular view to enhance capacity of the Ungheni Border Guard Training Centre by providing physical facilities and equipment as well as by assisting in curricula development. |

Project Name | IOM Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Trafficking (Chisinau, Moldova): Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reintegration through Comprehensive Care (TACIS/2004/72590) |

Location | Moldova |

Implementation period | December 2004 – February 2006 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 308.000 / €308.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The project set up a Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Trafficking (Chisinau, Moldova), focussed on the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims through comprehensive Care. |

Project Name | Enhancing border control management in the republic of Moldova (TACIS/2004/027521) |

Location | Moldova |

Implementation period | December 2004 – December 2005 |

Implementing Partner | UNDP |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.850.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The project aimed at strengthening border control capacities at selected Moldovan border crossing points through the supply of equipment and training. |

Project Name | Strengthening Migration Management in Moldova - MIGRAMOL (2006/104300) |

Location | Moldova |

Implementation period | June 2006 – May 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 775.000 / € 700.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The aim of this project is to improve migration management capacity with a particular focus on the treatment of irregular migrants. The core activity under the project is to ensure international standards in the accommodation of irregular migrants with the refurbishment of an accommodation facility, to develop a health care system (including the creation of a health post), in order to provide medical assistance to irregular migrants held, to train staff and develop norms and guidelines for the management of an accommodation facility in accordance with the best international standards and most particularly with the standards set by the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and the Committee for Prevention of the Torture. |

Project Name | Improvement of Border Controls at the Moldovan-Ukrainian State Border - BOMMOLUK 1 (2006/125442) |

Location | Moldova and Ukraine |

Implementation period | September 2006 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | UNDP |

Budget/EC contribution | € 3.250.000 / € 3.000.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The objective of this project is to build up appropriate and institutional capacity in Moldova and Ukraine to ensure effective border and customs controls and border surveillance with particular attention to the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border. |

Project Name | EU Border Assistance Mission to Ukraine and Moldova - EUBAM (RRM and TACIS) |

Location | Ukraine and Moldova |

Implementation period | November 2005 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | UNDP |

Budget/EC contribution | RRM: € 4.000.000 TACIS: € 24.200.000 (not all yet contracted) |

Funding Programme | RRM and TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The objective of this project is to contribute to the enhancement of the overall border and customs management capacities of Moldova and Ukraine border officials and to contribute to a peaceful solution to the Transniestria conflict. The deployment of the EUBAM mission along the Moldovan-Ukrainian border as well as along the Moldovan internal/administrative boundary was initiated with particular attention to the Transnistrian border sector, which the Moldovan authorities can not effectively manage. 17 EU Member States provide significant financial contribution to EUBAM's activities through the secondment of border police and customs personnel whose salaries are being paid by the EU Member States' administration. |

Project Name | Beyond Poverty Alleviation: Developing a Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Framework for Leveraging Migrant Remittances for Entrepreneurial Growth in Moldova (2006/120234) |

Location | Moldova |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM – International Organisation for Migration |

Budget/EC contribution | € 997.700 / € 794.665,38 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | This project aims at maximising the positive effects of migration on development, by promoting the cheaper transfer and providing advice for the most rentable use of migrants remittances in view of pro-development projects. |

Additionally, under CBC 2006 Budget Moldova is supposed to receive an additional €12 million assistance aimed at improving border controls through provision of equipment for border surveillance and the establishment of fibre optic cable networks to central authorities and between selected border crossing points. This latter component will facilitate smooth border and customs clearance thus reducing waiting hours at border crossing points and at the same time ensuring and improving security controls through modern data networks and/or control equipment. Furthermore technical assistance will also be offered, possibly through a twinning.

A TACIS RAP 2005 allocation of €6.6 million will enable to complete the demarcation of the Ukrainian- Moldovan border (the project will concentrate on the Southern border in front of the Black sea and on the Transnestrian sector, as the remaining parts were already ensured by the Ukrainian and Moldovan State Funds) and to set joint border posts.

Ukraine

Project Name | Fight against trafficking in human beings-Ukraine (2003/69572) |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementation period | December 2003- June 2006 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.892.000 / € 1.892.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The project covered three areas in this regard: 1) prevention of trafficking through dissemination of information and increase of public awareness; 2) prosecution and criminalisation of trafficking and building up capacity of Ukrainian law enforcement and judicial authorities; 3) protection and reintegration of victims through assisting victims with legal, medical and psychological help, shelter and micro-grants as an income generating basis. |

Project Name | Reinforcing the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine's Human Resources Management System (TACIS/2005/115-592) |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementation period | December 2005 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | International Organization for Migration |

Budget/EC contribution | € 4.341.000 / € 4.000.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | DEL Ukraine |

Description | Support to the State Border Guard Service's strategy towards an EU-type border police / law enforcement agency aimed at reforming the human resources management system (legislation, staff recruitment, staff training, career development).By the involvement of Hungarian and Polish border guards, it aims at improving human resources management, starting from recruitment, the development of training strategies, plans and curricula in line with EU standards and requirements, and being completed with a career development programme for border guard personnel. The programme will support the transition of a military-type structured entity towards a European-type law enforcement entity. |

Project Name | “Establishment of migration management in Zakarpattya in Ukraine” (2003/HLWG/039) and “Enhancing Capacities in the Area of Protection and Treatment of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Zakarpattya /Western Ukraine” (2006/120-173) |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementation period | June 2004 – June 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Osterreichische Caritaszentrale |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.627.823,77 / € 1.302.259,02 (2003/HLWG/039) € 874.928,04/ € 699.942,43 (2006/120-173) |

Funding Programme | HLWG B7-667 AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | JLS and EuropeAid |

Description | The projects have a humanitarian component, improving the living conditions of apprehended migrants in Zakarpattya. In addition, the activities contribute to the improvement of counselling, protection and registration of refugees while being detained and during all phases of their asylum procedure as well as to the improvement of cooperation and exchange of migration authorities and NGOs specialised in the field. |

Project Name | Monitor and promote the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees and migrants |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementing Partner | Chernihiv Public Committee for Human Rights Protection |

Budget/EC contribution | € 78.000 |

Responsible DG/Del | EIDHR (European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights) |

Description | This project is implemented with the aim to monitor and promote the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees and migrants with focus on the regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zakarpattya and Lviv. |

Project Name | Assistance to the Legal and Administrative Reforms in Ukraine in the Sphere of Migration and Refugees’ Protection According to the Norms and Standards of the European Union (2004/87047 ) |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementation period | July 2006 – March 2007 |

Implementing Partner | Ludwig Boltzmann Institute |

Budget/EC contribution | € 500.000 / € 500.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Kiev |

Description | The project's objective is to increase the competence of the staff of Ukrainian institutions in asylum and asylum related matters and the inter-institutional cooperation of the institutions involved by establishing internal working relations. |

Project Name | Strengthening Asylum and Protection Capacity in Ukraine by Enhancing the Capacity of Governmental and Civil Society Stakeholders in a Participatory Approach and Cross-sector Co-operation (2006/120-176) |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Dansk Flygtningehjaelp |

Budget/EC contribution | € 534397,23 / € 427517,78 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | To ensure that the Ukrainian asylum and refugee system is able to function in a transparent manner and in accordance with principles based on human rights and rule of law and in a participatory approach with civil society capacities. |

Project Name | Strengthening capacities and cooperation in the identification of forged and falsified documents in Ukraine (2006/120-195) |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | ICMPD |

Budget/EC contribution | € 783.161,25 / € 626.400,6 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | To contribute to an increased effectiveness in the fight against illegal migration by the Ukrainian authorities. |

Project Name | Capacity building of Migration management: Ukraine Phase I and Phase II (2004/096-462 and 2006/124-449) |

Location | Ukraine |

Implementation period | March 2005 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 4.204.672 / €3.781.505 (2004/096-462) € 3.074.474 / € 2.767.000 (2006/124-449) |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | DEL Ukraine |

Description | The activities aim at enhancing the capacity of the Government of Ukraine (GoU) to manage the migration flows and control the illegal movement of migrants to and through the territory of Ukraine. The projects seeks to do so by carrying out various interlinked actions, i.e. an assessment of migration situation, the development of best practices, based upon international standards and conventions, the refurbishment of accommodation centres for detained migrants and the piloting of a voluntary return programme, and to support the GoU’s efforts to comply with and ensure European best practices and humanitarian standards set by the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, and the CPT as well as the harmonisation with the EU acquis communautaire. |

Several projects were funded by TACIS (from RAP 2000 until NAP 2005) in view of providing the border guards of Ukraine with better equipment to control the green border and the land border crossing points (walky-talkies, radios for long distance communication including data transmission, 4 wheels cars, night-visors, metal detectors, passport readers, computers, software for data registration etc.) along the entire Northern and Eastern border with Belarus and Russia , and the South-West border with Moldova for an overall amount of approximately €20 million.

Under the TACIS NAP 2006, an allocation of €5 million (within a larger project addressing also Customs Service) is available to promote further improvement of the quality of Border Guards capacity of surveillance and alignment to the EU/Schengen standards. Both through this allocation and an additional €4 million which is available under the CBC programme (2006 budget) it will be possible to procure additional border equipment.

Regional Southern Caucasus

Project Name | An integrated approach to promoting legal migration through national capacity building (2005/103475) |

Location | South Caucasus |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 971.747 / € 777.397 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project contributed to the creation in the three countries of Migration Resource Centers, where information about potential and actual migrants are collected for the benefit of employers and students, and potential migrants can find information about the rules of legal migration and the risks of illegal migration. MRCs were established in 2006 in Yerevan (Armenia), Baku and Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan), Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Gurjaani (Georgia). |

Project Name | Towards sustainable partnerships for the effective governance of labour migration in the Russian Federation, the Caucasus and Central Asia (2006/120-072) |

Location | Russian Federation, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan |

Implementation period | December 2006 – November 2009 |

Implementing Partner | ILO - International Labour Organization |

Budget/EC contribution | € 2.433.508 / €1.945.105 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | This project aims at promoting a better management of legal economic migration and at increasing the level of protection of migrants' rights through seminars, trainings and legal advice in several NIS. In particular in the Russian federation it aims at developing practical methods for assessing and forecasting labour market requirements with a view to improving migration governance, as well as a system of earned regularisation and introduce sound regularisation policies and procedures. |

Project Name | NGO and Governmental Cooperation Across the South Caucasus to Develop a Joint Response to Trafficking in Women and Children (2006/118051) |

Location | Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia |

Implementing Partner | Eesti Naisuurimus Ja Teabekeskus Mtu (Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Center) |

Budget/EC contribution | €600.000 / € 480.000 |

Funding Programme | EIDHR (European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights) |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project’s goal is to raise the qualification of law enforcement staff, social services and journalists. It will establish links between these actors and establish regional referral mechanisms. The project will carry out a public awareness campaign about trafficking. It will carry out regional research and regular monitoring of the situation. |

Project Name | Development of a comprehensive anti-trafficking response in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (2006/104772) |

Location | Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | ILO with ICMPD, OSCE |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.874.989,76 / € 1.500.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | This regional project aims at contributing to the progressive reduction of trafficking in human beings in the SC countries through capacity building and empowerment of actual and potential victims. It includes revision of National strategies and support to their implementation, awareness raising, strengthening capacity of national authorities and improve identification, protection and reintegration of victims. |

Armenia

Project Name | Support to Migration Policy Development and Relevant Capacity Building in Armenia (2006/120-233) |

Location | Armenia |

Implementation period | December 2006 – November 2009 |

Implementing Partner | The British Council |

Budget/EC contribution | € 845.607 / € 676.485,6 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | 1. Raising people’s awareness on issues, costs, risks, rights and responsibilities associated with migration; contribute to the development of public demand for an improved legal framework 2. Create a structure responsible for providing advice and reintegration assistance to Armenian nationals returning from abroad. Material help will be envisaged, if at all possible, in order to further minimise the risk of repeated emigration. 3. Assisting state agencies in the process of drafting legislation and regulating migration. |

Azerbaijan

Project Name | Establishment of Integrated Border Management Model at the Southern Border of Azerbaijan (TACIS/2006/109-609) |

Location | Azerbaijan |

Implementation period | June 2006 – June 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 2.185.799 / € 1.987.090 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project will facilitate an enhanced cooperation among law enforcement agencies in the fight against border-related crimes, support the establishment and the activities of a Border Guards Training School, and contribute to procure border equipment and to improve border infrastructure. The project aims to pilot an Integrated Border Management Model at the Southern Border of Azerbaijan, in an area comprising 30 km of border intersection with Iran, including the international Border Crossing Point at Bilasuvar. The latter is the fastest land connection between Baku and Iran, and with the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan, and is the longest border Azerbaijan shares with any other country. |

Georgia

Project Name | Toward Durable Re-integration Mechanisms in Georgia (2006/120-074) |

Location | Georgia |

Implementation period | January 2007 – October 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Dansk Flygtningehjaelp |

Budget/EC contribution | € 639.352,80 / € 511.354,37 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The Georgian Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation (MRA) capacitated to implement its mandatory function of supporting re-integration of returning migrants, rejected asylum seekers and other displaced groups MRA capacitated to take a co-ordinating function on issues related to re-integration of returning migrants and rejected asylum seekers vis-à-vis the relevant Georgian state actors and European Governments engaged in bilateral support to re-integration. |

Project Name | Prevention of trafficking in human beings, monitoring and support to the implementation of the National Action Plan on counter trafficking (2006/122530) |

Location | Georgia |

Implementation period | September 2006 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | Peoples Harmonious Development Society Association |

Budget/EC contribution | € 77.580 / € 50.000 |

Funding Programme | EIDHR (European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights) |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | This micro-grant is supporting the fight against trafficking in human beings in Georgia through prevention and development of institutional mechanisms for prosecution of trafficking and protection of trafficking victims as well as through the monitoring and support to the implementation of the Plan of Action against Trafficking. |

Project Name | Contribute to the transformation of the Georgian Border Guards into a civilian agency under the Ministry of Interior. (2006/) |

Location | Georgia |

Implementation period | January 2006 – July 2007 |

Implementing Partner | Finnish Border Guards |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.000.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC Delegation Tblisi |

Description | The project aims to establish and equip a Border Police faculty in the Georgian Police Academy. An additional €1 million available under TACIS NAP 2004 and should be used to continue with assistance to the Georgian Border Guard Faculty for one more year, contract to be signed before July 2007. |

1.3 Russian Federation

Project Name | “House for Asylum seekers and Refugees in Saint Petersburg” (2003/HLWG/076) and “Complex action for improvement of refugees reception system in St. Petersburg – Russia”(2006/120-135) |

Location | Russian Federation |

Implementation period | March 2005 – October 2008 |

Implementing Partner | St. Petersburg Centre for International Cooperation of the Red Cross |

Budget/EC contribution | € 897.500 / € 698.740,00 (2003/HLWG/076) € 664.856,20 / €502.764,26 (2006/120-135) |

Funding Programme | HLWG B7-667 and AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | JLS and EuropeAid |

Description | The project aims to increase the capacities of St Petersburg in the reception, registration, documentation and integration of refugees and asylum seekers and the protection of their rights by means of supplying them with legal, psychological, medical and social assistance and temporary settlement in a special building. |

Project Name | Migration Rights: Network of Legal Assistance to Refugees and Forced Migrants in Russian Regions (2003/HLWG/082 and 2006/120-166) |

Location | Russian Federation |

Implementation period | January 2005 – December 2009 |

Implementing Partner | Memorial Human Rights Centre |

Budget/EC contribution | € 762.675,50 / € 1.042.672,82 (2003/HLWG/082) € 1.756.092,84 / 1.404.874,27 (2006/120-166) |

Funding Programme | HLWG and AENEAS |

Responsible DG | JLS and EuropeAid |

Description | The projects foresee at providing legal counselling and representing forced migrants in the courts, the development of the asylum system in the Russian Federation, establishing a system of effective international protection for forced migrants in Russia and promoting respect for international standards and rights for refugees, stateless persons, IDPs and forced and labour migrants. |

Project Name | Assistance to the Government of the Russian Federation in Establishing a Legal and Administrative Framework for the Development and Implementation of Readmission Agreements (2006/120-282) |

Location | Russian Federation |

Implementation period | February 2007 – January 2009 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.756.092,84 / € 1.404.874,27 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | With this project, the EC provides assistance to the Russian Federal Migration Service in its preparation towards the implementation of the readmission agreement with the EC. The project aims more specifically to upgrade the treatment of readmitted illegal migrants that are nationals of third countries, through promoting the creation of a model centre in Pskov and disseminating information on best practices in this field (including on assisted voluntary returns). |

Project Name | Prevention of Human Trafficking (2005/115237) |

Location | Russian Federation |

Implementation period | March 2006 – August 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 4.444.444 / € 4.000.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC DEL Moscow |

Description | The main objective of the project is to combat trafficking in human beings in the Russian Federation as a country of origin, transit and destination – by: (i) improving the legislative framework and the State policies regarding human trafficking, including the national capacity to assess and measure this phenomenon in Russia; (ii) strengthening the capacity of the relevant law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking; raising awareness amongst the risk group, general public and relevant Russian authorities, NGOs and diplomatic missions of foreign states; and (iii) building the capacity of the national authorities and local NGO networks to protect and reintegrate victims of trafficking. |

2. Other regions

2.1 Eastern Mediterranean ENP partner countries (Syria, Lebanon and Jordan) and Middle Eastern countries (Iran and Iraq)

Regional

Project Name | International migration from Middle East and North Africa (2005/103579) |

Location | Middle East and North Africa |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | World Bank |

Budget/EC contribution | € 916.963 / € 733.570 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Identify and support the implementation of projects, policies, regional arrangements, and institutional reforms that will maximise the benefits of international migration flows and reduce their costs. |

Project Name | Management of asylum and migration in North Africa and improving protection of for asylum-seekers and refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, with focus on Iraqis’ (2006/126-820) |

Location | Middle East and North Africa |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | UNHCR |

Budget/EC contribution | € 5.000.000 / € 4.000.000 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | €1 m of the total budget is reserved to strengthen the protection mechanisms in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, with particular focus on Iraqi refugees and asylum-seekers. |

Project Name | Enhancing civil society participation in human rights management of migration (2005/103558) |

Location | Middle East and North Africa |

Implementation period | December 2005 – March 2008 |

Implementing Partner | Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network -EMHRN |

Budget/EC contribution | € 669.499 / € 535.598 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | This project supports the work of NGOs dealing with migrants and asylum seekers in all the Maghreb and Mashrek countries, including Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. |

Lebanon

Project Name | Legal protection to migrant workers and asylum seekers in Lebanon (2001/50530) |

Location | Lebanon |

Implementation period | April 2003 – March 2007 |

Implementing Partner | Caritas |

Budget/EC contribution | € 761.300 / € 761.300 |

Funding Programme | MEDA |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The overall objective of this project is the protection of the human and legal rights of migrant workers and asylum-seekers in Lebanon. By the end of its implementation period: 1. The existing legal protections for migrants’ rights will be enforced in the courts of Lebanon and migrants will have access to the legal and social counselling necessary to take advantage of these protections; 2. Migrants and asylum-seekers will be more capable of protecting themselves from abuse, exploitation and detention by understanding and using the legal process and their social networks; 3. The Lebanese public will be informed of the legal and human rights of the migrants working and living among them and of the nature and extent of the abuse and exploitation they experience; 4. The official administrative instructions and general practices regulating the status and treatment of migrant workers, especially female household workers, will provide greater protection for their human and legal rights. |

2.2 Central Asia

Regional

Project Name | Border Management in Central Asia (BOMCA) |

Location | Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |

Implementation period | From 2003 - ongoing |

Implementing Partner | UNDP |

Budget/EC contribution | € 13.600.000 (additional €12 million reserved) |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EC Delegation Almaty |

Description | The overall objectives of the programme are 1) to enhance security in Central Asia; 2) to reduce the flow of illicit traffic through the countries of the region; 3) to contribute to an increased flow of persons and legal goods across Central Asian borders. The specific objective of BOMCA is to strengthen the five countries' capacities in managing their borders in accordance with European best practices. The programme addresses all the issues related to border management, including improvement of relevant legislation, training, study tours, funding of infrastructures, supplying of equipment for upgrading of security at border crossing points, on certain parts of the green border of the countries and in selected airports. It supports as well training centres, facilitated networking and regional coordination. |

Project Name | Central Asian Labour Migration Programme (2006/131406) |

Location | Central Asia |

Implementation period | November 2006 – October 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.900.000 / € 1.700.000 |

Funding Programme | TACIS |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project supports in Kazakhstan the improvement of labour migration data and statistics, the development of a national labour migration strategy, capacity building for migration authorities, protection of migrants’ rights via NGOs, while in sending countries like Tajikistan, Kirghizstan and Uzbekistan it is aimed at better regulating and inspecting employment agencies, increasing information for would be migrants, enhancing capacities of national authorities to protect nationals working abroad. At regional level the project promotes raising awareness among decision makers and promotes coordination and dialogue. |

Tajikistan

Project Name | Enhancing Development Impact of Remittances and Promoting legal migration in Rural Communities. (2006/120-262) |

Location | Tajikistan |

Implementation period | January 2007 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 669.655 / 535.724 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | To enhance the development impact of labour migration and remittances in migrant sending areas through remittance-linked education and investment initiatives as well as promoting legal migration through information dissemination and training of community based entities on reality of labour migration. |

2.3 Asian countries of origin

As regards Asiatic countries, a big distinction is to be made between 1) actions providing material help to internally displaced people (IDPs) of countries in crisis situations or to its nationals having massively fled in a neighbouring country, which were carried out mainly through the "Aid to Uprooted People" budget line, and 2) actions more specifically addressing other aspects of migrations and in particular migrations towards the EU.

As concerns the "Aid to Uprooted People" budget line, there have been several large scale interventions concentrated in a few countries. Among them Afghanistan was a priority. €145.4 million was allocated between 2001 and 2006. Interventions aimed at facilitating return and reintegration of internally displaced Afghans or Afghans willing to repatriate in particular from Iran and Pakistan by facilitating land and houses recovery, access to information and employment, removal of various legal and material obstacles. The programme also supported the functioning of the Afghanistan Comprehensive Solutions Unit (ACSU), whose task is to steer the overall collection of information on Afghans abroad and promotion and coordination of their return and reintegration back home, while coordinating among all the State agencies and the actors involved into this process.

Furthermore, the "Aid to Uprooted people" budget line mobilised between 2001 and 2004 up to €3.8 million to support Bhutanese refugees in Nepal . In the same period, €26 million were allocated to help Burmese refugees in Burma, Bangladesh and Thailand. Additional €18 million were allocated under the budgets 2005 and 2006 of that budget line.

In Indonesia €15.7 million were mobilised by the "Aid to Uprooted people" budget line, with focus on Sulawesi and Timor populations.

The "Aid to Uprooted people" budget line mobilised €8.5 million between 2001 and 2004 for projects implemented by UNHCR in the Philippines aimed at assisting internally displaced people, with special focus on Mindanao. At the same time, in Sri Lanka the "Aid to Uprooted people" budget line provided up to €15.5 million between 2001 and 2004 for projects implemented by UNHCR aimed at assisting internally displaced people.

Furthermore many more interventions of a purely humanitarian nature were promoted by ECHO.

Project Name | Regional Dialogue and Program on facilitating managed and legal migration between Asia and the EU (2005/103523) |

Location | Asia |

Implementation period | December 2005 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.060.728 / € 848.583 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | Develop legal migration and enhance regional dialogue and cooperation in facilitating managed migration from Asia to the EU. |

Project Name | Asian Programme of the Governance of Labour Migration (2005/103503) |

Location | Countries of the Mekong region, China, Korea, Japan and South Asia |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2008 |

Implementing Partner | ILO and UNIFEM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 2.447.840 / € 1.955.335 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The project aims to promote active dialogue and cooperation for enhanced gender and rights-based management of labour migration among countries in the Asian region, and thereby minimize exploitative and abusive treatment of migrant workers. The project contributes to the adoption of appropriate policies and the enactment of enabling laws, the training of labour administrators, improving information systems for decision-making, and promoting bilateral agreements and regular consultations among the countries in the region. |

Bangladesh

Project Name | Anti-Trafficking of Human Beings within the Police Reform Programme (Asia/2006/124252) |

Location | Bangladesh |

Implementation period | January 2007 – October 2009 |

Implementing Partner | UNDP |

Budget/EC contribution | €13.700.000 / € 2.000.000 |

Funding Programme | ALA |

Responsible DG | DEL Dhaka |

Description | Within the framework of a much larger (13.7m€) reform programme for the Bangladeshi police funded by DFID and UNPD, the EC funds one component which will focus on introducing a victim oriented approach, and should provide details on how the Ministry of Home Affairs and the police will improve the capacity of the police to investigate THB, on the one hand by ensuring that witnesses are treated in such a way that they feel safe and comfortable enough by supporting the investigations and on the other hand to have the capacity to investigate cases without being fully dependent on victim-witnesses. The project also strives to increase access to justice to victims of human trafficking, create understanding among police officers how to deal with trafficking cases, and how and when to work together closely with other Ministries, the NGO community, and international organisations to ensure best possible referral of the victims. |

China

Project Name | Capacity Building For Migration Management in China (2006/120-244) |

Location | Philippines |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 2499548,85 / € 1999639,08 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2005 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | IOM is supported to contribute to the reduction of illegal migration from, into and through the PRC, including to the EU; to support the enhancement of the national capacity for migration management in the PRC; to contribute to building a sustainable and viable network of partnerships and cooperation in the area of migration between the administration of the PRC and EU MS and to increase mutual understanding and knowledge of respective approaches to migration and migration management between the PRC and the EU. |

Project Name | MIGRAMACAO (2005/103671) |

Location | Macao |

Implementation period | January 2006 – December 2007 |

Implementing Partner | Cabinet of Secretary for Security of the Macao Special Administrative Region |

Budget/EC contribution | € 626.131 / € 500.904,80 |

Funding Programme | AENEAS 2004 |

Responsible DG | EuropeAid |

Description | The aim of the MIGRAMACAU action is to ensure entities of Macao more effective management in all aspects of migration flows, including the prevention and combating of illegal migration and trafficking of human beings through the cooperation with regional countries and the coordination with the EC. |

Philippines

Project Name | Philippines Border Management Project (2005/113-343) |

Location | Philippines |

Implementation period | January 2006 – January 2009 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 5.145.000 / € 4.900.000 |

Funding Programme | ALA |

Responsible DG | DEL Manila |

Description | This project contributes to the efforts of the Government of the Philippines towards a more professional migration and border management in line with international norms and protocols. |

Project Name | “The Opportunity Card” (2003/HLWG/031) |

Location | Philippines |

Implementation period | June 2004 – December 2005 |

Implementing Partner | Opportunity International |

Budget/EC contribution | € 701.417,11 / € 530.055,00 |

Funding Programme | HLWG – B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | The project led by Opportunity International UK (an international network of microfinance organisations) aims to provide a remittance product for overseas Filipino workers to remit monies back to the Philippines. The product provides a secure and economically competitive means for remittances to be made and uses the HSBC (bank) Money transfer product which takes the form of a cash card to be held by the recipients of the remittance. The initial target is of 15,000 new cards. The aim was thus to increase the amount of remittances as a tool to alleviate poverty by making them more accessible, cost and time-effective and safe. |

Sri Lanka

Project Name | Possible Establishment of an Information Exchange System Field-Based Country of Origin Information System With Regard to Sri Lanka (2001/HLWG/122) |

Location | Sri Lanka |

Implementation period | January 2002 – April 2005 |

Implementing Partner | ICMPD |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.079.663,55; EU grant: € 863.731,00 |

Funding Programme | HLWG – B7-667 |

Responsible DG | JLS |

Description | The purpose of this project was to provide country of origin information to interested Governments when dealing with pre-departure return planning of Sri Lankan nationals and therefore facilitating a more successful integration of Sri Lankan national returnees. |

Project Name | Capacity Building in Migration Management and Sustainable Return and Reintegration in Sri Lanka (2001/HLWG/130, 2002/HLWG/002, 2003/HLWG/060, 2005/103522) |

Location | Sri Lanka |

Implementation period | December 2001 – November 2007 |

Implementing Partner | IOM |

Budget/EC contribution | € 1.353.141 / € 1.082.513 (2001/HLWG/130) € 600.000 / € 507.713,70 (2002/HLWG/002) € 1.115.397,90 / € 892.318,32 (2003/HLWG/060) € 2.341.830 / € 1.873.464 (2005/103522) |

Funding Programme | HLWG and AENEAS |

Responsible DG | JLS and EuropeAid |

Description | The EC’s support to Sri Lanka focuses at strengthening the capacity of Sri Lanka to manage migration, enhance regular migration, support assisted voluntary return and reintegration and foster economic relations and exchange of experience between Sri Lankan migrants and their home country. In addition, the four projects strived to build the capacity of the Sri Lankan government to reduce irregular migration into and through Sri Lanka, and a wide range of training activities were conducted, both within Sri Lanka as is the EU. |

Annex III: Overview of the migratory situation and flows from and in the Eastern and South-Eastern regions neighbouring the EU and statistics

The latest available data indicates that around 5.5 million migrants from countries in the Eastern and South-Eastern regions are residing legally in the EU, which represents nearly 30% of all resident third-country nationals. The most important countries of origin are Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Ukraine.

In terms of illegal immigration , and in comparison to migration from Africa, migration from the Eastern and South-Eastern regions is different in nature: the flows are more constant (there is no specific seasonal cycle), more diffuse (given the multiplicity of possible entry points and the fact that an important share of illegal immigration is due to persons who enter the EU legally but overstay their visa) and more under the control of networks connected with organised crime and involved in multiform criminal businesses.

As regards numbers, a rough analysis suggests that migration flows to the EU originating in neighbouring countries reached its peak at the end of the 1990s and that this is now stabilising if not slightly declining; this is a trend that is likely to continue due to economic growth and increased political stability. At the same time there is evidence that migrants from Asia are seeking new routes into the EU via Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. It is predicted that flows from Asia will increase.

While illegal immigration negatively impacts on the EU, countries of origin are also significantly affected by migration. Whilst in some cases, attracting migrant labour is an important concern for the EU given the sharp decline in population, for countries of origin difficult economic situations can generate high levels of emigration among people of working age, people who may then however remit important earnings to their country of origin.

Assessing the scale and nature of migratory flows from, through or to the countries in the Eastern and South-Eastern regions neighbouring the EU is a difficult task which must take into account the changes in the EU's external borders: following enlargement of the Union to include Bulgaria and Romania, the EU now has more extended external borders with Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and Turkey; a new external border with Moldova; and an additional external sea border at the Black Sea which brings the countries of the Southern Caucasus closer. Land borders are also due to change as soon as the newer Member States join the Schengen area. As the borders of the EU shift, migratory routes also shift, displacing existing routes or adding new ones. New routes also appear when certain routes are closed off following increased action by enforcement agencies charged with tackling illegal immigration and organised crime. In addition, in recent years migratory flows have increasingly diversified and new migratory flows are emerging alongside traditional and relatively long-standing ones. In this context, migration is more difficult to manage and Member States increasingly turn to the EU to seek solutions via cross-border dialogue and cooperation with and within the partner regions.

Regarding asylum, according to UNHCR, seven of the ten main countries of origin of asylum-seekers in the EU in 2004 were countries in the Eastern and South-Eastern regions neighbouring the EU, namely in the Western Balkans, the Middle East and Asia. This is compared to three countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Capacity to ensure proper asylum processing in many countries of these regions is weak. Even when refugees staying in the region enjoy legal security, the poor social and economic climate is a barrier to integration.

TABLE 1: Nationals of Eastern and South-Eastern countries neighbouring the EU and of Asiatic countries registered by EU-25

As Legally residing (2004) | As Apprehended illegal migrants (2005) | As receivers of a visa (2005) | As asylum seekers (2005) |

From South Caucasus | 93,504 | 6,903 | 78,774 | 12,896 |

From Eastern Europe | 536,658 | 41,211 | 2,039,952 | 9,322 |

From Western Balkans | 2,502,906 | 83,173 | 838,174 | 25,890 |

From Turkey | 2,456,186 | 9,749 | 532,177 | 10,746 |

From Russian Federation | 485,053 | 13,844 | 2,833,392 | 18,143 |

TOTAL | 6,074,307 | 154,880 | 6,322,469 | 76,997 |

From Asiatic countries[12] | 2,002,589 | 58,518 | 1,447,382 | 62,975 |

TOTAL all groups above | 8,079,154 | 213,398 | 7,769,851 | 139,972 |

TABLE 2: Number of illegal migrants apprehended by law enforcement agencies of Eastern and South-Eastern countries neighbouring the EU

Year 2004 | Year 2005 |

In South Caucasus | 3,123 | 3,029 |

In Eastern Europe | 10,104 | 13,748 |

In Western Balkans | 6,919 | 8,234 |

In Turkey | 61,228 | 57,428 |

TOTAL | 81,374 | 82,439 |

Notes: Figures are Commission estimates based on the apprehension reports by ICMPD and other national sources Apprehended own nationals are in some cases included.

Data from Turkey includes apprehensions within the country. Source: ICMPD: 2005 Yearbook. Vienna 2006.

South Caucasus: no data was available for Armenia.

Western Balkans: For Albania for 2004 no data was available.

Western NIS: For Belarus only the number of apprehended illegal migrants by MOI was available. For Moldova only the number of deported persons was available.

TABLE 3: Number of asylum seekers registered in Eastern and South Eastern countries neighbouring the EU- Year 2004

Total asylum seekers |

South Caucasus | 1,431 |

Eastern Europe | 2,189 |

Western Balkans | 586 |

Turkey | 3,908 |

TOTAL | 8,114 |

Source: UNHCR Statistical yearbook 2004

TABLE 4: Stock of third country nationals from Eastern countries legally residing in the EU27

Nationals of Eastern and South-Eastern countries neighbouring the EU, including Russian Federation

Turkey | 2456186 |

Serbia-Montenegro | 839247 |

Albania | 778748 |

Russian Federation | 485053 |

Ukraine | 451283 |

Bosnia and Herzegovina | 352449 |

Croatia | 338307 |

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | 194155 |

Moldova | 82011 |

Armenia | 59381 |

Georgia | 31166 |

Azerbaijan | 2957 |

Belarus | 3364 |

TOTAL | 6074307 |

Nationals of Asiatic countries of transit and origin

China | 405546 |

India | 326592 |

Iraq | 186505 |

Pakistan | 170734 |

Sri Lanka | 149329 |

Islamic Republic of Iran | 131932 |

Vietnam | 126862 |

Indonesia | 124088 |

Bangladesh | 113464 |

Afghanistan | 92119 |

Lebanon | 74227 |

Syria | 54704 |

Jordan | 17290 |

Uzbekistan | 10313 |

Kirgizstan | 9759 |

Kazakhstan | 6257 |

Turkmenistan | 1755 |

Tajikistan | 1113 |

TOTAL nationals from Asiatic countries | 2002589 |

[pic]

TABLE 5: Visa data

Group 1 |

Russia | 2833392 |

Ukraine | 1348162 |

Belarus | 629849 |

Serbia and Montenegro | 541244 |

Turkey | 532177 |

Albania | 136569 |

Bosnia and Herezegovina | 128750 |

Moldova | 61941 |

Georgia | 40322 |

Armenia | 21911 |

Croatia | 17545 |

Azerbaijan | 16541 |

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | 14066 |

Total group 1 | 6322469 |

Group 2 |

China | 592644 |

India | 292861 |

Iran | 104898 |

Kazakhstan | 104166 |

Lebanon | 74299 |

Indonesia | 67931 |

Pakistan | 40243 |

Syria | 37708 |

Vietnam | 35372 |

Jordan | 31449 |

Sri Lanka | 16984 |

Uzbekistan | 12232 |

Bangladesh | 11808 |

Kyrgizstan | 8930 |

Iraq | 6563 |

Turkmenistan | 4033 |

Afghanistan | 3526 |

Tajikistan | 1735 |

TOTAL group 2 | 1447382 |

TOTAL group 1 + group 2 | 7769851 |

TOTAL visas issued worldwide | 11709251 |

Percentage of visas issued in countries group 1 | 54% |

Percentage of visas issued in countries group 2 | 12,30% |

NB. Transit A visas not included. Data is for the year 2005.

Source: Visa data collection managed by Council secretariat and Commission

TABLE 6: Apprehended illegal aliens in EU25, 2004-2005 |

Group 1 | Nationals of Eastern and South-Eastern countries neighbouring the EU including Russian Federation |

Country | 2004 | 2005 |

Albania | 36965 | 52388 |

Ukraine | 29156 | 26791 |

Russia | 17276 | 13844 |

Serbia Montenegro | 6988 | 13058 |

Moldova | 10710 | 11444 |

Turkey | 9775 | 9749 |

Georgia | 5627 | 4009 |

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | 3532 | 3518 |

Belarus | 2911 | 2976 |

Bosnia | 2663 | 2483 |

Armenia | 2142 | 1938 |

Croatia | 1110 | 1151 |

Azerbaijan | 1417 | 956 |

Total group 1 | 134,597 | 154,880 |

Group 2 | Nationals of Asiatic countries of origin and transit |

Country | 2004 | 2005 |

Iraq | 6861 | 14242 |

China | 10715 | 10894 |

India | 9168 | 9905 |

Pakistan | 5151 | 6724 |

Iran | 2858 | 4640 |

Bangladesh | 3223 | 3551 |

Vietnam | 2325 | 2338 |

Syria | 1526 | 1728 |

Afghanistan | 724 | 909 |

Lebanon | 736 | 803 |

Sri Lanka | 1101 | 745 |

Uzbekistan | 517 | 642 |

Kazakhstan | 616 | 587 |

Kirgyzstan | 301 | 350 |

Jordan | 161 | 212 |

Indonesia | 147 | 114 |

Tajikistan | 109 | 100 |

Turkmenistan | 73 | 34 |

Total group 2 | 46312 | 58518 |

TOTAL groups 1 & 2 | 180,909 | 213,398 |

Total apprehended illegals in all countries in EU25 | 390123 | 423378 |

% from 2 above groups on global total | 46.37% | 50,40% |

Source: Eurostat

NB – Order in the list follows 2005 ranking.

Missing data: Ireland, Luxembourg, UK

TABLE 7: Asylum applications and positive decisions in EU25, 2004-2005 |

Asylum applications and positive decisions in EU25, 2004-2005 |

Source: Eurostat |

Group 1 |

2004 | 2005 |

Country | Applications | Positive decisions | Ratio % between applications and positive decisions | Applications | Positive decisions | Ratio % between applications and positive decisions |

Serbia Montenegro | 17432 | 1866 | 10,70 | 19475 | 1978 | 10,16 |

Russia | 26373 | 7446 | 28,23 | 18143 | 8386 | 46,22 |

Turkey | 13547 | 1611 | 11,89 | 10746 | 1453 | 13,52 |

Georgia | 7452 | 189 | 2,54 | 6330 | 153 | 2,42 |

Moldova | 5229 | 90 | 1,72 | 4506 | 75 | 1,66 |

Armenia | 3682 | 193 | 5,24 | 3793 | 427 | 1,26 |

Bosnia | 3955 | 1134 | 28,67 | 3183 | 875 | 27,49 |

Ukraine | 4569 | 138 | 3,02 | 3077 | 118 | 3,83 |

Azerbaijan | 3630 | 362 | 9,97 | 2773 | 714 | 25,75 |

Belarus | 1931 | 165 | 8,54 | 1739 | 216 | 12,42 |

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | 2000 | 38 | 1,90 | 1578 | 68 | 4,31 |

Albania | 1882 | 214 | 11,37 | 1378 | 120 | 8,71 |

Croatia | 456 | 17 | 3,73 | 276 | 26 | 9,42 |

Total group 1 | 92138 | 13463 | 14,61 | 76997 | 14609 | 18,97 |

2004 | 2005 |

Country | Applications | Positive decisions | Ratio % between applications and positive decisions | Applications | Positive decisions | Ratio % between applications and positive decisions |

Iraq | 7910 | 2705 | 34,20 | 10805 | 4260 | 39,43 |

China | 11445 | 305 | 2,66 | 7765 | 345 | 4,44 |

Iran | 8760 | 1560 | 17,81 | 7485 | 1920 | 25,65 |

Pakistan | 8940 | 360 | 4,03 | 6810 | 440 | 6,46 |

Afghanistan | 7135 | 2610 | 36,58 | 6765 | 2420 | 35,77 |

India | 9710 | 35 | 0,36 | 5795 | 45 | 0,78 |

Bangladesh | 5535 | 340 | 6,14 | 4220 | 225 | 5,33 |

Sri Lanka | 3600 | 480 | 13,33 | 3890 | 275 | 7,07 |

Syria | 2910 | 440 | 15,12 | 3695 | 730 | 19,76 |

Vietnam | 3340 | 285 | 8,53 | 2400 | 180 | 7,50 |

Lebanon | 1200 | 45 | 3,75 | 1320 | 130 | 9,85 |

Uzbekistan | 590 | 100 | 16,95 | 725 | 180 | 24,83 |

Kazakhstan | 590 | 85 | 14,41 | 435 | 85 | 19,54 |

Kirgyzstan | 510 | 45 | 8,82 | 390 | 90 | 23,08 |

Jordan | 230 | 15 | 6,52 | 255 | 25 | 9,80 |

Tajikistan | 130 | 25 | 19,23 | 95 | 10 | 10,53 |

Indonesia | 75 | 5 | 6,67 | 70 | 0 | 0,00 |

Turkmenistan | 115 | 30 | 26,09 | 55 | 15 | 27,27 |

Total Group 2 | 72725 | 9470 | 13,02 | 62975 | 11375 | 18,06 |

2004 | 2005 |

Applications | Positive decisions | % Positive decisions | Applications | Positive decisions | % Positive decisions |

TOTAL all groups | 164863 | 22933 | 13,91 | 139972 | 25984 | 18,56 |

Total asylum applications/decisions from all countries in EU25 | 282480 | 62986 | 237840 | 73068 |

Percentage from 2 above groups on global total | 58,36% | 36,40% | 58,85% | 35,56% |

N.B. Order on the list follows order of importance of applications in 2005 |

The ratio between applications and positive decisions is not a recognition rate |

Remarks: |

Data rounded up to the nearest 5. |

2004 - no applications data disaggregated by citizenship available for IT |

2004 - no decisions data available for IT |

2004, 2005 - no decisions data available for LU |

[1] Basate sulla comunicazione della Commissione "L'approccio globale in materia di migrazione un anno dopo: verso una politica europea globale della migrazione", novembre 2006 - COM(2006) 735.

[2] Quale definito nella risoluzione n. 1244 del Consiglio di scurezza dell’ONU.

[3] Nel caso del Belarus, il dialogo dovrebbe avere luogo conformemente alle restrizioni applicabili alle relazioni UE-Belarus per quanto riguarda i contatti con le autorità e in un quadro regionale.

[4] La Turchia è stata ufficialmente riconosciuta come paese candidato nel dicembre 1999. I negoziati d’adesione sono cominciati il 3 ottobre 2005. La Croazia è anch’essa un paese candidato che sta negoziando l’adesione. L’ex Repubblica jugoslava di Macedonia ha ottenuto lo status di paese candidato nel dicembre 2005 ma non ha ancora cominciato i negoziati d’adesione.

[5] L'accordo di stabilizzazione e associazione con la Croazia e quello con l’ex Repubblica jugoslava di Macedonia sono in vigore. Il SAA con l’Albania è stato firmato ma non ancora ratificato e quello col Montenegro è stato siglato. I negoziati per un SAA con la Bosnia ed Erzegovina sono stati completati mentre quelli per un accordo con la Serbia sono attualmente in sospeso.

[6] L'accordo di riammissione con l'Albania è in vigore dal maggio 2006. Gli accordi di riammissione con la Bosnia ed Erzegovina, la Serbia, l'ex Repubblica jugoslava di Macedonia e il Montenegro sono stati siglati e dovrebbero entrare in vigore per la fine del 2007.

[7] Con il Belarus non è stato concluso nessun PCA. Inoltre, conformemente alle conclusioni del Consiglio, le relazioni fra l'UE e questo paese sono regolate da una doppia politica, consistente nel limitare i contatti a livello ministeriale pur accordando un'assistenza volta a promuovere la democratizzazione e a sostenere la popolazione nelle sue necessità.

[8] Nel 2002 sono iniziati con l'Iran i negoziati per un accordo sugli scambi e la cooperazione (TCA). A causa della crisi nucleare iraniana non si è potuto tenere nessun ciclo di negoziati dopo il luglio del 2005. Quando i negoziati per il TCA potranno riprendere, l’UE e la Repubblica islamica dell’Iran potranno forse trovare un interesse reciproco nel prevedere specifiche disposizioni per il dialogo e la cooperazione sulle questioni migratorie.

[9] Nel novembre 2006 la Commissione ha avviato i negoziati per un TCA con l’Iraq. Il dialogo con l’Iraq su immigrazione, visti e asilo dipenderà moltissimo dalle condizioni di sicurezza nel paese, e dalla misura in cui l’amministrazione irachena aumenterà le proprie capacità.

[10] COM(2001) 469 del 4.9.2001.

[11] Projects which started before the separation of Serbia and Montenegro and which now cover both countries can be found under Serbia.

[12] 'Asiatic countries' includes here: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.