PROTECTION OF MIGRANTS IN THE EU POLICIES

1
PROTECTION OF MIGRANTS IN THE EU POLICIES

• Tomasz Ostropolski
• European Commission
• DG Home Affairs

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Statistics

• 32 million foreign citizens in the EU
• 20 million third-country nationals (Eurostat)
• 1, 4 regular migrants every year
• Unclear number of undocumented migrants (1,9-3,8
  mln Clandestino project)
• ?Migrants rights must be an integral part of the
  migration agenda

3
Institutional framework

• Entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty ?
• Upcoming accession of EU to ECHR
• Charter of Fundamental Rights
• Stronger position of the European Parliament
• Unanimity requirement abandoned

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Stockholm Programme 2009

• Proactive policies for migrants and their rights
  
• The European Union must ensure fair treatment
  of third country nationals who reside legally on
  the territory of its Member States. A more
  vigorous integration policy should aim at
  granting them rights and obligations comparable
  to those of EU citizens.This should remain an
  objective of a common immigration policy and
  should be implemented as soon as possible, and no
  later than 2014.

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Legal migration

• Long-term residents
• Family reunification
• Students
• Researchers
• Blue Card

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Upcoming instruments

• Single permit
• Seasonal workers
• Intra-corporate transferees
• Consolidation of legislation
• (based on an evaluation of the existing acquis,
  including amendments needed to simplify or extend
  the existing provisions and improve their
  implementation and coherence)

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Integration

• Dynamic, two-way process of mutual accommodation
  by all immigrants and residents of Member States
• The 2004 Common Basic Principles on integration
• New European Agenda on Integration
• New legal basis in the Lisbon Treaty

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Irregular immigration

• Return Directive
• (reduces legal ambiguity, primacy of voluntary
  return, number of procedural and substantive
  safeguards)
• Employer Sanctions Directive
• (duty to pay outstanding remuneration,
  assistance by third parties, criminal sanctions
  for exploitation, residence permits for victims)

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Other initiatives

• Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors
• (coordinated response based on the respect of
  the rights of the child prevention, reception
  and identification of durable solutions)
• Draft Directive on Trafficking in Human Beings
• (human rights-centred approach focusing on
  prevention, prosecution of criminals, and
  protection of victims)

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Challenges

• Thank you for your attention!