“OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW IS FREEDOM.”
(Presidio’s portico, San Francisco, CA)

1. EU legislation

2. Citizenship Acquisition

3. The Hague Programme for freedom, security and justice.

1. EU legislation

>>> ONE OBJECTIVE :
to coordinate immigration policy.

The Treaty of Amsterdam conferred powers on the Community in the areas of migration and asylum.
The Commission feels that an open procedure for coordination will lead to the identification of common objectives which will call for a European response. At the Tampere European Council, the Member States set out the four key areas for the development of a common policy on asylum and immigration, namely:

> partnership with the countries of origin;

> a common European asylum system;

> fair treatment of third country nationals;

> more efficient management of migration flows.


The availability of comparable statistics is of crucial importance for the effective monitoring of the immigration policy. However, the data collected do not give reasons for migration nor its duration.
Considering the different aspects (humanitarian, economic, etc.) linked to the migration policy, the Commission suggests six guidelines:

> developing a comprehensive and coordinated approach to migration management at national level;

> improving information available on legal possibilities for admission to the EU and the consequences of using illegal channels. The Commission proposes to develop information services in third countries and to promote cooperation between consular services of the Member States and local authorities;

> reinforcing the fight against illegal immigration, smuggling and trafficking by supporting several measures such as tighter checks at the external borders and introducing effective penalties;

> establishing a coherent and transparent policy and procedures for opening the labour market for third country nationals within the framework of the European employment strategy. The Commission is aware that several Member States actively recruit economic migrants, including skilled workers, to meet the increasing shortage of labour. It feels that procedures for processing applications for work permits should be simple and transparent. It calls on the Member States to adopt the necessary measures to fight against undeclared work and to improve the situation of migrant women;
 
> integrating migration issues into relations with third countries, and in particular with countries of origin. The Commission suggests that a comprehensive and structured dialogue be held with third countries on the matter of human rights and development. It suggest that education and training programmes be organised in the countries of origin and that migrants should be encouraged to take part in development programmes and that it should be made easier for victims of smugglers to be integrated socially and economically;

> ensuring the development of integration policies for third country nationals residing legally on the territories of the Member States (promoting the integration of migrants, alerting civil society to the problems of migrants, making provision for measures aimed at social and economic integration, etc.).

2. Average Citizenship Acquisition per year

Germany                      154547
France                          128 092
Belgium                        62160  
Netherlands                  45321
Sweden                        37792
Spain                           26517
Denmark                      17300
Italy                             13406
Latvia                           9421
Hungary                       8590
Estonia                         4091
Slovakia                       3484
Czech Republic             3261
Finland                         3049
Slovenia                       2808
Poland                          1182
Luxembourg                  754
Portugal                       255
Cyprus                         126

3. Appendix: The Hague Programme

On 5 November 2004, the European Council adopted a new multi-annual programme for the next five years (until 2010) to strengthen freedom, security and justice in the European Union, known as the Hague Programme.
Further development of a common policy on returns
In the area of returns, the Hague Programme proposes the following measures:
Council negotiations on minimum standards for return procedures in early 2005;
mutual technical support by the member states;
joint country- and region-specific return programmes;
establishment of a European return fund by 2007;
timely completion of readmission agreements by the Community;
appointment by the Commission of a special commissioner for a common policy on readmissions.
The Commission has been assigned the task of drafting a directive on minimum standards for return procedures for persons obligated to leave.

Security priorities in visa policy
With regard to visa policy, the Hague Programme gives special priority to the introduction of biometric features in visas and residence permits, the creation of a visa information system (VIS) and the harmonization of national legislation and visa processing.
On 27 November 2003 , the Justice and Home Affairs Council reached general policy agreement on two proposed regulations on the introduction of biometrics in EU visas and residence permits. Introducing biometric identifiers is an important step towards establishing a more reliable connection between the document and its holder, and thus significantly helps protect documents from fraudulent use. A decision on the various technical options is expected in the first quarter of 2005.
The visa information system (VIS) is intended to prevent visa applications in more than one member state (“visa shopping), to improve verification, harmonize procedures and combat terrorism. This project goes back to Minister Schily's proposals to the Justice and Home Affairs Council in late 2001 on additional measures for the EU draft immigration policy, specifically measures to combat terrorism, and to the Global Action Plan to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking, which were adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28 February 2002 . The following timeline is planned:
Council decision on the legislation by the end of 2005;
the main part of VIS set up by the end of 2006, as a first step (processing of alpha-numerical data and photos; sponsor database);
expansion of VIS in a second step, by the end of 2007, if possible (processing of additional biometric data, facial recognition and fingerprints).
For security reasons, the project has high political priority; Germany and other member states are pushing for rapid implementation.

The Hague Programme also aims at making legal travel easier and combating illegal immigration through further harmonization of national legislation and visa processing practices among local consular offices. Joint visa issuing offices are planned for the long term, taking into account negotiations on establishing a European External Action Service.