Burden sharing on back burner

Southern Mediterranean states' plea for burden sharing within the EU on the issue of immigration has been sidelined in a five-year legislative action plan presented in Strasbourg.

Although the European Commission and several member states have pledged their support for the concept of burden sharing, the Commission's action plan gives little importance to it and does not present any concrete initiatives in the area.

Instead, the emphasis is shifted to granting more rights to immigrants through facilitating entry into the EU, particularly for employment purposes, and the need for more standards when hosting those seeking asylum.

The action plan was presented by Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Justice Commissioner Vivian Reding. It follows last December's approval of a 170-proposal blueprint known as the Stockholm programme, which identifies a number of priorities until 2014.

However, it fails to mention one of the areas on which Malta and Italy insisted upon during the negotiations over this document - the need to put in place concrete burden-sharing mechanisms, such as a permanent EU-wide resettlement programme for refugees. Instead, the plan only mentions the "continuation of current initiatives".

Last year, under former Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot, the Commission had started an experimental resettlement programme, specifically designed for Malta's needs so other member states could, voluntarily, take refugees "stuck" on the islands. The Commission was offering financial compensation for every refugee resettled.

The initiative did not reap the desired results as few refugees were resettled. However, Malta was hoping the programme would be developed into a full-blown permanent project.

Instead, the document states: "In the years to come, the Commission will continue this work, with the aim to create a common EU asylum system that treats people with dignity and full respect for the fundamental rights and with a strong focus on solidarity."

It continues: "There is also an ongoing pilot project (Malta's) which aims at facilitating the resettlement of beneficiaries of international protection from those countries having asylum systems that currently are under pressure."

On the other hand, the Commission's action plan prioritises the facilitation of "entry of immigrants into the EU".

Clearing the conditions of entry and residence of third country nationals (immigrants) for purposes of seasonal employment and intra-corporate transfer will be given priority, with a legislative proposal to be presented later this year.

According to Ms Malmström, it is obvious that the EU, despite the current economic crisis, has a long-term demographic challenge which has to be addressed.

"Even though the unemployment rates are high, we also have an ageing population. If we are to secure our welfare, we need to open more legal ways into Europe," she said.