Summary: 8 October 2008, Brussels - Frequently Asked Questions on Strengthening the European Union's Global Approach to Migration
What is the Global Approach to migration?
The Global Approach to migration can be defined as the external dimension of the European Union's migration policy. It is based on genuine partnership with third countries, is fully integrated into the EU's other external policies, and addresses all migration and asylum issues in a comprehensive and balanced manner. Adopted in 2005, it illustrates the ambition of the European Union to establish an inter-sectoral framework to manage migration in a coherent way through political dialogue and
close practical cooperation with third countries. The approach therefore addresses three equally important thematic dimensions: the management of legal migration, the prevention and reduction of illegal migration, and the relation between migration and development.
Why another communication on the Global Approach to migration and why now?
The Communication presented today - which ensues from the Communication of June 2008 on A Common Immigration Policy for Europe1 - aims to be one of the first building blocs of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum due to be adopted by the October European Council. Besides being a response to the European Council's call to report on what is being done to implement the Global Approach, it illustrates the usefulness of the Global Approach as a framework to approach migration in a
comprehensive manner. It also suggests how implementation can be achieved more efficiently. These proposals imply a strengthening of the policies presented in three specific Commission Communications presented over the past three years2, which set out short-term measures in relation to particular geographical areas and countries, and on an interim progress report presented in December 20073. Finally, it also builds on the Tampere European Council in 1999 and The Hague
Programme of 2004, which laid the ground for the development of the Global Approach to migration and its role as the external dimension of the European Union's migration policy.
What is the main content of this Communication?
This Communication suggests both substantive and methodological improvements to the Global Approach, focusing on ways of improving coordination, coherence and synergies. The Communication examines the relevance of the thematic development of the Global Approach. It then focuses on the geographical aspects and suggests a more differentiated approach to cooperation gearing it to the specific context of the various regions and countries. Finally, it considers the Global Approach as a framework for
coherence and coordination in achieving better governance of migration flows, and its efficiency in terms of the available financing instruments.
What does the Commission suggest in terms of real action?
The analysis in this Communication illustrates the relevance, efficiency and balanced scope of the Global Approach. The Communication also shows that it is now necessary to refine this approach as a way to further improve the attainment of the strategic objectives of the Union as regards migration: to better manage economic migration, to prevent and reduce illegal migration and to make migration and mobility positive forces for development. The Union and its Member States should, to this end,
step up their efforts to mainstream and coordinate migration with other external as well as internal policy areas.
New proposals on how to intensify the dialogue and cooperation with third counties - one of the main principles underlying the Global Approach - are presented. The Global Approach should be adapted to the specific character of the regions and countries it applies to by targeted action as well as by using better the existing multilateral cooperation forums and broadening the existing dialogue. Such iimprovements should make it possible to manage more effectively the new and evolving challenges
and opportunities set by international migration in cooperation with countries in the regions neighboring the EU, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia.
A comprehensive policy towards migration requires closer coordination among all stakeholders and at all levels, between the EU and the national, regional and local level and with third countries, using a range of instruments. More systematic and regular monitoring and evaluation could also ensure the necessary synergies to increase efficiency. The Commission proposes to eenhance and upgrade the migration management capacities of the Union, to strengthen capacity building measures in selected
source and transit countries of migration, and to set up mechanisms for coordinating and, possibly, pooling the resources of Member States, Community and third countries to serve the Global Approach priorities.
What will be the follow-up?
The European Council of Heads of State and Government in December 2008 is expected to give guidance on further implementation of the proposals in the Communication. The Commission will thereafter work in close cooperation with Member States to ensure that the guidelines are put into practice.
1 A Common Immigration Policy for Europe: principles, actions and tools, COM/2008/0359.
2 Priority actions for responding to the challenges of migration: First follow-up to Hampton Court (COM (2005) 621); The Global Approach to Migration one year on: Towards a comprehensive European migration policy (COM (2006) 735) Applying the Global Approach to Migration to the Eastern and South-Eastern Regions Neighbouring the European Union (COM (2007) 247)
3 Interim report on the progress of the overall approach in the field of migration (SEC (2007) 1632)
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