Activites

• 1999/06/22 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1999/03/23 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0221/1999 summary

    The Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Ms. Anna TERRIN I CUSI (PES, Spain) strongly objecting to a Council action plan to deal with refugees from Iraq and the neighbouring region, since it was adopted without consulting Parliament. The resolution expresses disapproval of the fact that the action plan gives the impression that only Iraqi and Kurdish refugees are concerned, whereas people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Egypt are also affected. There is support for the EU granting aid to those regions facing a sudden influx of immigrants from neighbouring war-torn regions. There is a specific call on the Turkish authorities to find a solution to the Kurdish question. In addition, while there is support for the tough action to combat illegal immigrants, the Parliament takes the view that immigrants without proper documentation should not be automatically expelled. The Commission is requested to come up with a proposal for the directive for the procedures as soon as the Amsterdam Treaty comes into force. The EP is also concerned about the violation of human rights and the oppression faced by minorities and would like to see a detailed study carried out on the situation.�

• 1999/03/22 Debate in Parliament
• 1999/02/17 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0079/1999
• #2116
• 1998/09/24 Council Meeting
  • 2116
• #2099
• 1998/05/28 Council Meeting
  • 2099
• 1998/03/09 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1998/02/28 Non-legislative basic document published
  • 05573/1998 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to propose a plan of action at European level to respond to and reduce the influx of immigrants into the Community from Iraq. SUBSTANCE: Given the constant influx of refugees from Iraq into the Community, the Council decided to propose a programme of action centred on the following: 1) consideration of the causes and origin of the problem: this must be discussed with the Turkish authorities who are also concerned. 2) more effective distribution of humanitarian aid: the Commission should assess the humanitarian aid situation and improve the organization of projects in this area together with the UNHCR. 3) asylum procedures: it is necessary to improve the supply of information concerning asylum seekers and consider how facilities for them can be improved using Community funds. On the basis of the information received, Member States could establish whether their own laws or national practices regarding asylum procedures need to be reviewed. 4) prevention of abuse of asylum procedures: under the provisions of the Dublin Convention Determining the State Responsible for Examining Asylum Applications, Member States could consider adopting the common response to asylum seekers from Iraq who have no identity papers. Pending the establishment of EURODAC (European system for the Comparison of the Dactyloscopic Records of Asylum Seekers), Member States could adopt bilateral arrangements for the comparison of their fingerprints. 5) measures to combat organized crime: the Europol Drug Unit (EDU) will be called upon to consider the possible impact of these migrants on recruitment by criminal organizations. According to the information gathered, a number of joint crime prevention projects could be envisaged with the support of the multidisciplinary group on organized crime. 6) measures to combat clandestine immigration: initially, information will be gathered on procedures for issuing visas in the various Member States and, if necessary, steps taken to modify these procedures. Measures could be taken to ensure that those concerned receive adequate training in the detection of false documents and in border control procedures (particularly at airports), e.g. as part of the Odysseus Programme (CNS 97909). In the long term, the Council is considering a proposal regarding airline liaison officers. Experts could be sent to the third countries concerned with the agreement of that country to assist with controls on land and at sea. In addition, a common strategy will be adopted to penalize those responsible for transporting passengers travelling without documents or with falsified documents. Procedures are also being envisaged for return of clandestine immigrants in cooperation with Member States and the third countries concerned with which readmission agreements could be concluded involving transit countries also. 7) review procedures are also envisaged with regard to the programme of action. �

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: 05573/1998
• Debate in Council: 2099
• Debate in Council: 2116
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A4-0079/1999
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0221/1999

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)