Europese Commissie en Comité van de Regio’s gaan meer samenwerken op gebied van migratie en asiel (en)
Migration, mobility and asylum issues were the focus of debate during the Committee of the Regions (CoR) Plenary session yesterday, in the presence of Cecilia Malmström i, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. Emphasising that cities and regions are at the frontline when it comes to home affairs concerns, the Commissioner committed to developing the key strategic partnership with the CoR to support local and regional authorities facing the challenges related to the reception and integration of migrants.
Last year, the European Commission issued proposals for a comprehensive approach to migration and asylum, looking both at how migration and mobility could better contribute to European economic growth and how the EU could improve its response to the sudden arrival of migrants to EU shores, as was the case during the Arab Spring.
Addressing the CoR Plenary, Commissioner Malmström gave an overview of the current state of play on migration and asylum policies and responded to the three CoR opinions in the field of home affairs that were presented for adoption, including the opinion by Nichi Vendola (PES/Italy), President of the Puglia Region, on "The Global Approach to Migration and Mobility".
The Commissioner stressed that there was room for reinforcing cooperation between the European Commission and the CoR as migration and asylum policies have "very clear local and regional components". In particular she recognised the central role that local and regional authorities can play in the implementation of migration policies, as well as the importance of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) and the Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) in facilitating structured dialogue with partner regions. She further emphasised that Member States must involve cities and regions in asylum issues as they often are the first contact point for asylum seekers. Regarding the integration of migrants, Mrs Malmström was keen to underline that "Integration is a local process. A one-size-fits-all policy imposed at the national level is unlikely to be effective. Far more effective is a tailored approach at the local and regional level, set by people who know and understand the community".
Responding to the Commissioner on behalf of the CoR Socialist Group, Nichi Vendola expressed the view that European migration policies cannot just focus on security issues: "Our aim must be to make Europe a place of liberty and justice where human rights are guaranteed and to make it accessible for all people escaping from war or looking for a chance to improve their life. In this perspective local and regional authorities can provide their direct experience in working towards acceptance and integration". The President of the Puglia Region raised concerns regarding the political tensions that are threatening the Schengen Agreement, a concern shared by Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos speaking on behalf of the EPP Group and Francesco Musotto for the European Alliance who strongly called for the Agreement to be adhered to.
The CoR unanimously adopted the opinion of Nichi Vendola on migration and mobility which welcomes the European Commission's focus on the human rights of migrants but goes further by recalling every individual's human right to leave any country, including their own. It insists on cities and regions being fully accounted for in the implementation ofimmigration policies. The opinion also highlights the undue emphasis on border controls to counter irregular immigration rather than credible programmes for managing the movement of people. It further stresses the need to avoid causing a brain drain in the countries of origin through policies to attract skilled labour in the EU - the so‑called selective migration policy.
Directly linked to migration issues, the opinion presented by Theodoros Gkotsopoulos (PES/EL), Municipal Counsellor of Pallini (Attica) on "Enhanced intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum" was adopted by a large majority. With this opinion, the CoR points out the urgency to set up an improved EU legislative framework based on the principles of solidarity and fair burden-sharing among Member States. A thorough overhaul of the Dublin Regulation - which determines which EU Member State is responsible for examining an asylum application - is in the CoR's view absolutely necessary to better apply the principle of solidarity between Member States.
The CoR also adopted its position on the EU financial instruments in Home Affairs (rapporteur Samuel Azzopardi (EPP/MT)), welcoming the Commission's work to simplify home affairs spending programmes while calling for home affairs funds to support actions recognising the multilevel governance approach.
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-Draft opinion on "The Global approach to Migration and Mobility"
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-Draft opinion on "Enhanced intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum" (consolidated version will be available in the forthcoming days on the CoR website)
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