Asylum and Immigration

Migration occurs largely as a result of population growth, war and poverty. Tackling these issues is a central task for humankind. Promotion of good governance is also essential, but granting asylum to those in need will almost certainly remain a duty for EU member states. Recognising the measures taken to date towards truly EU wide asylum and immigration policies, ELDR regrets the failure of member states to fully implement these policies. ELDR welcomes the steps taken towards qualified majority voting and co–decision. ELDR advocates the adoption of both decision making methods by the member states in order to bring about common asylum and immigration policies, as was recommended by the Tampere Council conclusions and the action programme adopted in The Hague. ELDR considers the development of genuinely common policies in these fields to be vital. Such policies should comprise the establishment of a European “Green Card”, the strengthening of cooperation agreements (including readmission agreements) with the main emigration countries and more effective cooperation with member states, and third countries, confronted with huge influxes of refugees.  

Customs and Drug Cooperation

Recognising the importance of cross–border cooperation in tackling the trafficking of people, counterfeit and prohibited goods, drugs and money laundering, ELDR notes the establishment of a customs information system to facilitate cooperation between states. ELDR welcomes the Commission’s Drugs Action Plan 2005-2008 to reduce illegal drug use and improve coordination between Member States. ELDR calls for further cooperation between member states and welcomes the idea of extending the Drugs Action Plan into the period 2009-2012. However, EU-regulation preventing member states that wish to carry out experiments with legalizing production and use of soft drugs from doing so, should not be introduced. Any such regulations already in place should be revised.

Data Protection

Recognising free movement as a fundamental right of all EU citizens and noting the need to facilitate the movement of people between member states, ELDR welcomes the adoption of a second generation Schengen Information System to take account of EU enlargement, but is dismayed by the recent delays which seem to prevent the early participation of Bulgaria and Romania. ELDR calls for visa facilitation for EU entry for persons outside the Union. ELDR calls for the finalising of common standards for EU visas and residence permits, but notes with concern that the most recent harmonisation included a steep increase in the price of EU visas, which has become prohibitively high, particularly for young people and tourists.

Organised Crime and Police Cooperation

In view of the international scope of organised crime, ELDR calls for the establishment of an office of EU Prosecutor, and the harmonisation of criminal codes in order to improve the efficiency of the fight against international crime. So as to guarantee the democratic character of common justice and home affairs policies, a combination of qualified majority voting and full parliamentary co-decision is needed. ELDR supports the Europol enlargement project and the strengthening of Eurojust.

Terrorism

Recognising the European and international threat of terrorist networks, ELDR notes the steps taken in implementing the measures included in the Tampere and Hague Programmes. ELDR calls on the member states to ratify all treaties in relation to terrorism. ELDR believes that terrorism should be fought at its roots so as to prevent and in the worse case scenario, limit its potential impact. This includes reducing and removing the imbalances between rich and poor regions, the increasing hostility towards Islam, the political exploitation of religious feelings, the renewed violence in the Middle East and the many so called “frozen conflicts”, all of which provoke frustration, alienation, suffering, pain, anger and despair and may thus provide breeding grounds for terrorism. If the EU wants to live up to its ambition to contribute to world peace, all of these imbalances and conflicts must be addressed. In particular, the EU should see its role as cooperating on the basis of mutual respect, thus strengthening its capacity to exert its influence, to promote values and to safeguard its interests.