2007/837/EC: Commission Decision of 30 November 2007 implementing Decision 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the adoption of the strategic guidelines for 2008 to 2013 (notified under document number C(2007) 5822)
Date: 2007-11-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU migration policy, cooperation policy, fund (EU), management, migratory movement, repatriation grant, return migration

L 330/48

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.12.2007

COMMISSION DECISION

of 30 November 2007

implementing Decision 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the
adoption of the strategic guidelines for 2008 to 2013

(notified under document number C(2007) 5822)

(Only the Bulgarian, Spanish, Czech, German, Estonian, Greek, English, French, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian,
Hungarian, Maltese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Finnish and Swedish texts are
authentic)

(2007/837/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

(6)

Having regard to Decision No 575/2007/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 23 May 2007 establishing the
European Return Fund for the period 2008 to 2013 as part of
the General programme
and Management of
Migration Flows’ (1), and in particular Article 18 thereof,

‘Solidarity

Whereas:

its wish to take part in the adoption and application of
Decision No 575/2007/EC.

of

the

opinion

in this Decision are in
The measures provided for
accordance with
common
the
Committee ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration
Flows’
established by Article 56 of Decision No
574/2007/EC of
the
Council of 23 May 2007 establishing the External
Borders Fund for the period 2007 to 2013 as part of
the General programme ‘Solidarity and Management of
Migration Flows’ (2),

the European Parliament and of

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

The Commission should lay down strategic guidelines
setting out a framework for the intervention of
the
Fund relating to the multi-annual programming period
2008 to 2013.

should define the priorities and,

in
The guidelines
accordance with Article
of Decision No
575/2007/EC, the specific priorities that allow Member
States not covered by the Cohesion Fund to have the co-
financing of the Community contribution increased to
75 % for projects co-financed by the Fund.

15(4)

In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on
the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on
European Union and the Treaty
the
European Community, Denmark should not be bound
to this Decision or subject to its application.

establishing

the Protocol on the
In accordance with Article 3 of
position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, annexed
to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty
Ireland has
establishing the European Community,
notified, by letter of 6 September 2005,
its wish to
take part in the adoption and application of Decision
No 575/2007/EC.

In accordance with Article 3 of
the Protocol on the
position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, annexed
to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty
establishing the European Community,
the United
Kingdom has notified, by letter of 27 October 2005,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The guidelines setting out the priorities and specific priorities
for the multi-annual programming for the period 2008 to 2013
shall be as defined in the Annex.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium, the
Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Federal Republic
of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, the Hellenic Republic, the
the Italian
the French Republic,
Kingdom of Spain,
Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the
Republic of Lithuania, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, the
Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of
the Republic of
the Netherlands,
the Republic of Austria,
the Republic of
the Portuguese Republic, Romania,
Poland,
Slovenia,
the
Kingdom of Sweden,
the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.

the Republic of Finland,

the Slovak Republic,

Ireland,

Done at Brussels, 30 November 2007.

For the Commission

Franco FRATTINI
Vice-President

(1) OJ L 144, 6.6.2007, p. 45.

(2) OJ L 144, 6.6.2007, p. 22.

15.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 330/49

ANNEX

The strategic guidelines set out below are to be seen in the context of more efficient management of migration flows at
all stages, as initiated by the Tampere European Council in 1999, including a common return policy and the fight against
illegal immigration.

When preparing their draft multi-annual programmes, Member States should target the available resources under this
Fund to three out of four of the following priorities, allowing them to determine the most effective distribution of the
financial resources allocated to them in accordance with their needs:

PRIORITY 1: Support for the development of a strategic approach to return management by Member States.

This includes the development of integrated return management in all its dimensions. In accordance with Article 3(2) of
integrated return management should be based on a comprehensive assessment of the
Decision No 575/2007/EC,
situation of the potential returnees in the Member State and in their countries of origin and the challenges with
respect to the operations envisaged, set targets for such operations and envisage a wide set of measures focusing on
effective and sustainable return, including preparation, enforcement and follow-up of removals.

Within this priority, the Community contribution may be increased to 75 % for integrated return plans addressing the
following specific priorities:

(1) assisted voluntary return programmes;

(2) cash incentives and measures to address the specific situation of vulnerable returnees;

(3) integrated return plans supporting the return of third-country nationals or stateless persons not covered under
Community readmission agreements or national bilateral readmission agreements to countries of origin, former
residence or transit with which cooperation in the field of return is particularly difficult.

PRIORITY 2: Support for the cooperation between Member States in return management.

This includes setting up and implementing integrated return plans as well as cooperation in specific areas of integrated
return management, such as the preparation, enforcement and follow-up of joint flights for removal and joint removals
by land.

Within this priority, the Community contribution may be increased to 75 % for projects addressing the following specific
priority:

— integrated return plans which have been designed and will also be implemented in cooperation with other Member
States, and, where appropriate, with the Frontex Agency, non-governmental organisations and/or international orga-
nisations, with the aim of pooling the different skills, experiences and resources of the authorities of the Member
States and where appropriate the other organisations involved.

PRIORITY 3: Support for specific innovative (inter)national tools for return management.

This includes setting up or improving counselling and return information measures, reintegration measures for returnees
in the country of return, modes of cooperation with consular and/or immigration services,
including training, and
measures to gain information on undocumented third-country nationals or stateless persons.

Within this priority, the Community contribution may be increased to 75 % for projects addressing the following specific
priorities:

(1) projects which propose particularly innovative ways and means of informing and counselling potential returnees
about the situation in the countries of return and/or other innovative incentives for increasing the number of
voluntary returnees based on respect for the dignity of the individuals concerned;

(2) projects which test new working methods to speed up the process of documenting returnees in cooperation with the

consular authorities and immigration services of third countries.

L 330/50

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.12.2007

PRIORITY 4: Support for Community standards and best practices on return management.

This includes the application of existing and future common standards as referred to in recitals 13 and 14 of Decision No
575/2007/EC and the promotion of (inter)national best practices and ways to cooperate with the relevant authorities of
other Member States, for example by using the ICONET.

Within this priority, the Community contribution may be increased to 75 % for projects addressing the following specific
priorities:

(1) evaluations and missions to measure progress in return programmes, tools and processes;

(2) measures taken at national level to ensure a fair and effective implementation of common standards on return, as

established under Community legislation on return, including the training of practitioners.