Council Conclusions of 30 November 1994 on the organization and development of the Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on the Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration (Cirefi)
Date: 1994-11-30
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Community body, cooperation policy, data collection, exchange of information, illegal migration, immigration













EUR-Lex - 31996Y0919(15) - EN






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31996Y0919(15)

Council Conclusions of 30 November 1994 on the organization and development of the Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on the Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration (Cirefi)  


Official Journal C 274 , 19/09/1996 P. 0050 - 0051 





ANNEX III.7COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS of 30 November 1994 on  the organization and development of the Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on the  Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration (Cirefi) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, RECALLS the decision taken by the Ministers responsible for immigration on 30 November and 1  December 1992 to establish a Centre for information, discussion and exchange on the crossing of  frontiers and immigration (Cirefi) and NOTES that in the 1994 priority work programme in the field  of justice and home affairs which it adopted in November 1993, Cirefi was requested to continue its  work; EMPHASIZES the urgent problems arising from illegal immigration and unlawful residence by nationals  of third countries in the Member States and considers that only concerted action by the Member  States on a basis of solidarity can stem or reduce the flow of unauthorized immigration; UNDERLINES the need for all Member States to combat criminal illegal immigration networks and make  it impossible for them to arrange or assist large scale illegal immigration flows; Given that further progress in cooperation between Member States requires improved exchanges of  information and uniform situation assessments in order to improve coordination on a Union-wide  basis in the areas of illegal immigration and expulsion, CONSIDERS AND DECIDES that Cirefi should  be, as a further step, progressively developed in the following way: 1. Cirefi will assist the Member States in effectively studying legal immigration  preventing illegal immigration and unlawful residence, in effectively combating immigration crime,  in better detecting forged documents and in improving expulsion practice. 2. Cirefi shall meet on a regular basis and shall consist of expert representatives of the Member  States (Standing Conference) with logistical back-up from the General Secretariat of the Council. 3. Without prejudice to the other tasks included in the Decision taken by the Ministers responsible  for immigration on 30 November and 1 December 1992, the specific tasks of Cirefi shall be to: 3.1. collate, using standard forms, statistical information concerning: (a) legal immigration; (b) illegal immigration and unlawful residence; (c) facilitating of illegal immigration; (d) use of false or falsified travel documents; (e) measures taken by competent authorities, and draw up regular and occasional situation reports  on this basis commenting on trends, developments and changes; 3.2. analyse the information compiled, draw conclusions and, when appropriate, give advice; 3.3. conduct exchanges of information on expulsion matters, particularly in respect of countries of  destination, airports of departure or arrival, carriers, flight routes, fares, reservation  possibilities, conditions of carriage, escort requirements and charter possibilities as well as on  problems in obtaining repatriation travel documents. Cirefi will submit an annual report on its activities, and any additional reports on request, to  the Council (JHA). Personal data may not be processed and, in particular, may not be communicated by or to Cirefi. Cirefi will not be empowered to give instructions to Member States' authorities. The activities of Cirefi will not affect closer cooperation between Member States. 4. Cirefi, in the form of the Standing Conference as defined in paragraph 2, will meet regularly or  as circumstances require; as a general rule this should be once a month. Where possible,  discussions adequately prepared in advance should be structured around a particular current item of  common interest to permit an efficient exchange of information. The relevant bodies of the Council will determine priorities for Cirefi's ongoing work within the  framework of the tasks assigned to it under paragraph 3. The logistical back-up at the General Secretariat of the Council will provide Cirefi with the  necessary administrative and organizational assistance and will contribute to prior and subsequent  processing of agendas for Cirefi's meetings. The General Secretariat of the Council will, within  its budgetary constraints, ensure provision of the staff and equipment required for Cirefi to  perform its tasks. 5. The Council also notes that during the time between meetings of Cirefi as a Standing Conference  as defined in paragraph 2, the national central units of the Member States concerned will exchange  information directly at a multilateral or bilateral level in cases requiring immediate action.  Information will be exchanged as far as possible using standard forms or as events dictate using an  agreed layout. Costs incurred by national central units, including the cost of communicating with other national  central units, will be borne by the Member State concerned. 6. The Council considers that Cirefi may begin to carry out its work as defined in these  conclusions from 1 January 1995.