WRITTEN QUESTION E-2939/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Common asylum and immigration policy

With the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty on 1 May 1999, the Community assumed responsibility for asylum policy, the free movement of persons, policy on visas, the rules governing the crossing of borders, immigration policy and the rights of third-country nationals. Articles 61 to 63 of the EC Treaty specify detailed targets which the Union is supposed to achieve within five years. As regards asylum and immigration policy, the measures in question include minimum standards on the reception of asylum seekers and on temporary protection, conditions of entry and residence, illegal immigration and residence and measures defining the rights of legally resident third-country nationals.

Will the Commission state what specific proposals it has drawn up in these areas, what progress has so far been made and at what stage a common asylum and immigration policy now is?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the conclusions of the Presidency at the Tampere European Council (October 1999) and the scoreboard to review progress on the creation of an area of Freedom, security and justice which has been officially transmitted to Parliament. An update will also be sent shortly to the Council and Parliament with a view to preparing Parliament's annual debate on progress in the fields of justice and home affairs (JHA) in January 2001.

The proposals presented by the Commission since May 1999 as well as amended proposals following Parliament's opinion (September 2000) are as follows:

- Council Regulation (EC) concerning the establishment of Eurodac for the comparison of the fingerprints of applicants for asylum and certain other aliens (26 May 1999) and amended proposals following Parliament's opinion (15 September 2000);

- Council Directive on the right to family reunification (1 December 1999) and amended proposal following Parliament's opinion (10 October 2000);

- Council Decision creating a European Refugee Fund (14 December 1999) and amended proposal following Parliament's opinion (September 2000);

- Council Regulation (EC) determining the list of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (January 2000) and amended proposal following Parliament's opinion (21 September 2000);

- Council Directive on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof (24 May 2000);

- Council Directive on minimum standards on procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status (20 September 2000).

A Commission working document towards common standards for asylum procedures (3 March 1999) as well as the Commission working document: Revisiting the Dublin Convention: developing Community legislation for determining which Member State is responsible for considering an application for asylum submitted in one of the Member States (21 March 2000) have also been adopted.

Before the end of 2000, the Commission intends to present two policy communications, one on immigration policy and another on a common asylum procedure and a uniform status, valid throughout the Union, for persons granted asylum.