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The EU and migration
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement is one of the cornerstones of EU policy. In Sweden, rules regarding freedom of movement began to apply as early as 1 January 1994, when the EEA Agreement came into force. Consequently, Sweden's entry into the EU in 1995 did not bring about any great changes in this area. The primary difference when Sweden became a Member State was that Sweden was then able to participate fully in EU measures regarding:
- The abolition of border controls (Schengen Cooperation)
- Coordination of visa rules
- Refugee and asylum policy
- Immigration policy
In November 2004, the EU's Heads of State and Government adopted the so-called Hague Programme, a five-year action plan for EU cooperation regarding legal and internal issues such as asylum and migration. Through the Hague Programme, the Member States decided that a common asylum system should be developed by 2010. The cooperation has proceeded, but the programme expires in December 2009. Efforts to put together a new programme — the Stockholm Programme — will be a key task during the autumn of 2009 when Sweden holds the EU Presidency.
The objective of EU immigration policy is to harmonise and expand European and international cooperation to ensure a sustainable policy that protects the right to asylum, facilitates freedom of movement across borders, promotes needs-based labour immigration and which considers and takes care of the development effects of migration.
Asylum and immigration
A comprehensive effort to create a common asylum system is currently ongoing within the EU. This shall be a legally secure and transparent system that safeguards the opportunity to seek asylum and which respects human rights. It is essential to guarantee that applications for asylum are assessed in an equivalent and legal manner in all Member States. It is also important to ensure that the responsibility for and costs associated with asylum seekers are distributed equitably amongst the EU countries.
The most important legal documents that form the basis for a future common asylum system are:
- Asylum Procedures Directive (2005/85/EC)
- Asylum Qualification Directive (2004/83/EC)
- Dublin Regulation (2003/343/EC)
- Reception Conditions Directive (2003/9/EC)
- Eurodac Regulation (2000/2725/EC)
Negotiations are currently in progress regarding amendments to the Dublin Regulation, Eurodac Regulation and the Reception Conditions Directive. Efforts are also ongoing to establish a common European support office for cooperation on asylum issues (see below), which is also another important link in the work towards harmonisation. During 2009, the Commission is also expected to submit proposals for amendments to the Asylum Procedures Directive and the Asylum Qualification Directive.
A European office for cooperation on asylum issues
In October 2008, the EU's Heads of State and Government agreed to establish a support office for cooperation on asylum issues. The Commission presented a draft regulation for a European Support Office on 18 February 2009.
The purpose of the Support Office is to support practical cooperation between public authorities in the EU and to contribute to improved uniformity in examinations of asylum applications. It is hoped that this will also lead to improved reception conditions in the Member States and will reduce secondary migration within the EU.
The purpose of the Support Office will be to support authorities within the Member States that deal with asylum matters in their work, for example by training staff or sharing tips on working practices. Its intention is also to develop best practice at EU level and facilitate access to information on countries of origin. The Commission has also suggested that the Support Office should further develop the EAC (European Asylum Curriculum).
Resettlement
When the safety of refugees cannot be guaranteed in either their countries of origin or the country in which they have sought protection, the persons can be transferred to another country. This process is known as resettlement. In Sweden, this is carried out via the Swedish refugee quota. The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, presents the case to the Swedish Migration Board, which determines whether the refugees may settle in Sweden.
Resettlement is an important part of the common asylum and refugee system being developed within the EU. The EU Commission wishes to see the development of EU countries' national programmes and to actively participate with Member States in resettlement within the scope of regional protection programmes. The EU Commission presented a draft resettlement programme in September 2009.
Visa policy
A common visa policy forms an important part of the Schengen Cooperation. This means, for instance, consensus among Schengen countries on those countries whose citizens must have a visa to enter the Schengen zone. In the development of a common visa policy, the use of new technology is key to enabling travellers to cross borders without comprising security.
On 8 June 2004, the Council of Europe decided to establish a common European system for the exchange of visa information (VIS). The purpose of VIS is to prevent threats to internal security and "visa shopping", as well as to facilitate checks at external borders, the internal control of aliens and the fight against fraud. VIS is to be used by all signatories to the Schengen Cooperation. VIS records all visa applications electronically in a central database. In order to confirm the identification of visa applicants, biometrics (fingerprints and photos) are registered in the system with each first-time visa application.
Labour immigration
Population growth within the EU is not as great as in other parts of the world. In the years to come, there will be labour shortages at various levels in several sectors. Consequently, EU countries will have a need for labour immigration.
Several new EU directives will probably be presented with the aim of harmonising and expanding cooperation relating to labour immigration.
