Nederlands voorzitterschap moet Europees Jusitiebeleid nieuwe impulsen geven (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Dutch EU Presidency, which starts this July, is likely to see the launching of the EU's new priorities in justice and home affairs.

This new agenda would follow the ambitious five-year programme launched by member states in 1999 which kick-started the EU's justice and home affairs policies.

But it will also take on board any unfinished business of the present programme - known as the Tampere programme.

"I wish the Netherlands and the Luxembourg Presidencies every good luck to establish a new and creative agenda under Tampere II", Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell said this morning (11 February) in the European Parliament.

Commission's orientations next June

The European Commission will present a communication assessing the implementation of the Tampere programme. In June, member states will also make an assessment.

In 1999, at Tampere, member states put the making of the EU into an area of freedom, security and justice as a top priority. They agreed to set up a common EU asylum and migration policy, a genuine European area of justice, an EU-wide fight against crime and stronger external action.

However, five years on, focus has been given to the fight against illegal immigration at the expense of policies to facilitate legal immigration.

During a debate in the European Parliament which concentrated on developments in justice and home affairs over the whole period between 1999-2004, MEPs gave a mixed review of the results achieved.

Discord over legal immigration policies

To facilitate legal immigration, the Council has adopted the directive on family reunification and the one on the status of third-country nationals who are long term residents.

However, there has been lack of progress in the field of admission of economic migrants.

"If there is any note of slight regret I'd like to express as regards to the difficulties met, has been regarding setting up a common platform with member states on the management of legal immigrants and the admission of immigrants with a view to work", Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino admitted during the debate.

Moreover, an EU common policy on asylum has been delayed due to disagreements on a directive which aims to harmonise procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status and the directive on the qualification of refugees, despite the 1 May deadline specified by the Amsterdam Treaty.

The chair of the Citizens' Rights Committee in the European Parliament, Spanish Christian Democrat MEP Jorge Salvador Hernández Mollar, said that while the driving force for measures that have been adopted should be to guarantee citizens' rights and freedoms, government have been more concerned about protecting their national interests.

"I have to say that the Commission has done its job, but the Council's record is not outstanding", UK Liberal MEP Sarah Ludford said.