The 27 want to better welcome immigrants
(B2 archives *) After the signing of the Lisbon Treaty, the 27 Heads of State and Government meet again, this time in Brussels, for the end-of-year summit ritual. This will be an opportunity for them to celebrate the opening of all land and sea borders on the continent.
The opening of borders
In a few days, in fact, before Christmas, on December 21 exactly, the barriers of the border posts between the "old" and "new" member countries of the European Union - Baltic States, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia , Malta — will rise. Checks at airports will only be lifted at the end of March 2008. Thus, during the Christmas holidays, border lines should be no more than a memory and everyone will be able to travel throughout Europe without showing their credentials. Well almost, since the United Kingdom and Ireland will keep a separate regime.
A European asylum and immigration policy
The 27 European leaders should also consider the establishment of a global European policy for asylum and immigration. The challenge is to advance these delicate issues because they affect the sovereignty of each State. The objective is, first of all, to set up legal immigration channels, in particular for the admission of highly qualified foreigners (young researchers, computer scientists, etc.) or whose profiles are lacking on the labor market. European (doctors...). It is then a matter of simplifying access formalities, in particular by setting up a single application procedure, and better integrating foreigners residing legally in a European country, who should be able to benefit from a common set of rights in the entire Europe.
Fight against illegal immigration
The 27 should also show their determination to step up the fight against illegal immigration. A deadline will be set for the European directive harmonizing penalties for the employment of illegal workers to be adopted. The aim is to dissuade employers from resorting to illegal workers. The European summit should also act on the reinforcement of the means of control at the external borders of the Union – maritime and land patrols – which now neighbors with Ukraine, Russia and… Lebanon.
A strategy for flexicurity
Finally, the Summit will also adopt a new social doctrine based on flexicurity, this very fashionable concept from Denmark, combining flexibility and security for companies and employees. A meeting with the social partners is thus planned.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
(*) article published in Ouest-France in a first version
The operation in Chad in question
On the sidelines of the summit, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will also try to convince his partners to make a little extra effort to complete the dispatch of a European military force of 3000 men to Chad / Central Africa. A dozen helicopters still need to be financed. All eyes are on Angela Merkel and Gordon Brown who hold the purse strings.
