Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-10-12-Speech-3-044"
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"en.20051012.12.3-044"2
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".
Mr President, today is a special day. This morning we had a meeting of the two Commissions – the European Union Commission and the African Union Commission – and this issue was part of the complex agenda and strategy discussed between these two important organisations.
It should be stressed that this problem does not concern Italy alone. Recent reports from non-governmental organisations and individual complaints have highlighted that several Member States, not only those particularly affected because of their geographical situation, may face problems in providing adequate standards in the reception of asylum seekers.
Following the entry into force of the directive on minimum standards for the reception conditions of asylum seekers, which came into force on 6 February this year, the Commission is currently examining the national measures for the transposition of this directive. Vice-President Frattini will provide more information tomorrow about the way in which the Commission intends to proceed on this issue in particular.
The Commission is aware that Parliament also intends to carry out several visits to other reception centres following the visit to Lampedusa. The findings of the European Parliament will be taken into due account in the report to be prepared by the Commission.
The European Commission recalls that since the Tampere European Council in 1999, the European Union approach towards migration and asylum issues has been a balanced one. On the one hand it protects and enhances the right of those who reside lawfully or are in need of international protection, and on the other side it combats abuse and fights illegal immigration.
The Hague action plan confirmed and strengthened this approach to migration management. The set of measures adopted by the Commission on 1 September in this field bodes well with this approach. A series of measures on integration of third-country nationals has been proposed which aims to improve the rights and status of legal migrants within the European Union. At the same time it adopted a proposal on return which will contribute to a more effective fight against illegal immigration, while preserving full respect for human rights.
This important course of action will also be accompanied by other initiatives dealing with the external dimension of our policies and the impact they may have on the development and protection capacities of third countries. Later this year the Commission intends to adopt a policy plan on legal migration which will constitute an important further step towards this balanced approach.
The recent tragic events mentioned by some of you and by Minister Alexander which occurred in the towns of Ceuta and Melilla remind us once again how important it is to find a comprehensive and forward-looking response to migration issues. Failing this, migration may well turn into a humanitarian tragedy, the consequences of which are difficult to predict.
In the immediate aftermath of these events, Vice-President Frattini has decided to send a technical mission to Morocco and to Spain to get a first-hand assessment of the current migration situation and to explore ways in which the EU might assist the countries concerned in addressing this serious situation.
At tomorrow’s hearing in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Vice-President Frattini intends to provide more details on the findings of this technical mission. He has asked me to convey to you his sincere apologies for not being able to take part in this important debate today but, as many of you probably know, Vice-President Frattini is today taking part in the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
It is clear that it is urgent to do more to tackle the problem of illegal immigration. Our aim should be to work with all countries concerned with a view to avoiding further loss of life and human suffering. We need to develop a comprehensive approach which includes a variety of instruments ranging from law enforcement to development assistance.
Fences alone are not the answer to this human tragedy. Fences will not stop desperate people from risking their own lives in an attempt to enter the European Union. The Commission fully understands Parliament’s concerns, as clearly indicated in the recent report on the reception conditions of irregular immigrants in Lampedusa."@en1
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