Shaping up EU policy

Alot has been said and written about the issue of immigration and emotions have been flying high.

As an MEP, I have tried my best to raise our country's difficulties and prod the EU closer to effective action in an area where, until recently, common action was altogether absent. True, it might have been smarter to stay away from this hot potato as others have done. But I felt that I would be failing my duty if I did not take it up.

An incredible opportunity came along when, last year, I was entrusted to draw up a report which would formulate the European Parliament's position on a Common Immigration Policy. This opportunity has enabled me to shape the position of one of the most important EU institutions on an issue that is of immediate interest to us.

On February 9, I presented a first draft.

The report gives a bird's eye view of where we stand and where we would like our immigration policy to go. The main point is that the momentum to construct a common immigration policy has now reached an unstoppable thrust and the EU should seize the opportunity to deliver it. Or we will all live to regret it. To get there, more ambition is required and EU countries must put aside their national pride and agree to work better and together, if necessary by pooling their sovereignty.

Indeed, unless Europe moves urgently ahead in forging a common immigration policy, it risks being overtaken by events. A deadly human tragedy is already taking place with hundreds of lives being lost at sea each year and, shockingly, this tragedy may be passing by unnoticed. A number of countries are also being left on their own to carry a disproportionate burden as a result of migratory pressures.

The report deals with the three main aspects of a migration policy, namely: legal migration, illegal immigration and solidarity.

On legal migration, the report acknowledges that, provided it is organised, a legal route to Europe is necessary if only to relieve the pressure from illegal immigration. Legal migration should therefore be possible although individual countries should retain the right to determine how many migrants, including workers, they can receive. Moreover, the prospect of integration for those who arrive legally should also be open but migrants who wish to integrate must be prepared to respect the identity and values of their host country.

On illegal immigration, the report makes it clear that Europe has not done enough collectively to combat it and progress remains slow and insufficient. As a result, illegal immigration routes still break through the weakest link.

Europe must therefore take a strong leadership role in putting an end to illegal immigration once and for all. Various actions can be taken to combat illegal immigration. My report highlights three in particular.

The first is the Frontex agency, which has not been sufficiently effective and which needs to be further strengthened both in terms of its financial resources as well as in terms of its capacity to act.

The second is to bolster returns because there is no question that people who are staying illegally in the EU territory must leave or be returned.

The third relates to cooperation with third countries, which is crucial to stop illegality at the point of departure. EU agreements with third countries should include chapters on cooperation on immigration. Negotiations are finally underway with Libya and last week the EU offered €20 million to help Libya strengthen its capacity to combat illegal immigration.

Finally, it is clear that an immigration policy must necessarily be built on solidarity, which has so far been lacking. All too often member states that face severe migratory pressures have been left to their own devices. In turn, this has undermined trust in Europe. On this score I am insisting that the burden-sharing mechanism agreed in last year's Immigration Pact should be implemented by the European Commission without delay. A €5 million allocation has already been made available in this year's EU budget for this purpose.

Not only. I add that the Commission must now come forward with proposals on how the burden-sharing mechanism, which is currently voluntary in nature, can be converted into a binding and permanent instrument.

When I presented my draft, I was pleased to obtain a very positive reaction from my colleagues in the European Parliament from all political groups who considered it as a balanced report that presents a comprehensive synthesis on a complex and delicate subject. I need their support for my report to go through.

The debate continues this week and a deadline for amendments has been set for Monday. The adoption of the report in the committee is set for March 31, whereas it will be debated and adopted in plenary at the end of April.

Readers are invited to read my draft report which is available on my website and to send me their views and feedback.

To send feedback go to www.simonbusuttil.eu.

Dr Busuttil is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.