Immigration Policy in the European Union: Still bringing up the walls for fortress Europe?
Immigration Policy in the European Union: Still bringing up the walls for fortress Europe?

Author(s): Petra Bendel
Subject(s): EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Immigration; Policy; European Union; Europe; Geneva Refugee Convention;
Summary/Abstract: In May 2004 the deadlines for the transitional five-year-period of the Amsterdam Treaty (in force since May 1999) ended for those European regulations which were supposed to create a common European asylum and immigration system. The European Council in Tampere, 1999, had agreed on quite an ambitious programme in order to create an “area of freedom, security and justice”. Underlining a strong EU commitment to the common values of freedom based on human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law, the Presidency of the European Council stressed that the European Union’s common rights should be guaranteed to its own citizens but, at the same time, must “offer guarantees to those who seek protection in or access to the European Union”. An open and secure European Union, therefore, has to be “fully committed to the obligations of the Geneva Refugee Convention and other relevant human rights instruments, and able to respond to humanitarian needs on the basis of solidarity.” Also, the Tampere conclusions of the Presidency wanted to ensure the integration into the EU societies of those third country nationals who are lawfully resident in the Union.

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