Watson - Europe moves towards common migration policy

4.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 18th Jun 2008

Migration is one of the greatest challenges facing not only the UK but the European Union as a whole and following almost three years of long, complicated and tough negotiations with Council, the European Parliament now endorsed the compromise package establishing EU-wide rules on how to return illegally staying third country nationals in a fair and transparent procedure. The compromise package promotes the principle of voluntary return and provides for a minimum but comprehensive set of procedural safeguards. It also limits the use of coercive measures and sets standards for use of the re-entry ban as well as of detention.

Local MEP Graham Watson commented;

"We are moving towards a European migration policy at a quicker pace. Just a day after the European Commission presented its asylum plan and stepped up the search for a common approach to immigration, there is agreement on the handling of illegal non-EU citizens. I hope that our commitment to a human, efficient and sustainable management of migration will be taken on by the French presidency and put into action."

Editors note

By 2020 Europe's working population is set to drop by 20 million - together with it the tax receipts and skills necessary to keep our economy afloat. Graham Watson MEP has recently co-written a pamphlet on the subject entitled Making Migration Work for Europe'. The pamphlet's authors were drawn from across the European political spectrum but all recognised the need to implement a comprehensive and ambitious migration policy that responds to the needs of Europe's economy, respects the values of our society, and addresses the factors which force people to leave their countries in the first place