Immigration et politiques frontalières : de nouvelles approches sont exigées

D’après un communiqué publié en mars 2008 par le Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), le moment est venu d’identifier les priorités futures en matière d’espace liberté, de sécurité et de justice.

Didier Bigo, Sergio Carrera and Elspeth Guild believe that migration and borders are set to become two of the most relevant policy areas on the EU agenda, particularly given the increasing influence of globalisation and the demographic transformation of the region.

Moreover, the upcoming French presidency of the EU is expected to collaborate closely with the European Commission to develop a common EU migration policy and a ‘European Pact on Asylum and Immigration,’ they point out. 

A number of recommendations are included in the brief. The authors highlight the need to start thinking proactively about dividing the Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) for Justice, Freedom and Security into three separate DGs – one dealing with policing and judicial co-operation, another dealing with borders, immigration and asylum and a third responsible for human rights. 

The Commission also needs to « separate border and immigration policy issues from security imperatives, » they write. « Border crossing and migration only rarely engage security issues, » they explain, noting that cross-border crime questions belong to the field of policing, not border control and immigration. 

The authors also call for the proper implementation of the EU’s newly adopted borders law, the Schengen Borders Code. They reject US-style projects involving « massive data collection and retention, and biometrics, » claiming that these « have proven to be extremely expensive with no apparent security gain, » and do not « offer value for money ». 

The paper further recommends that the EU integration debate be « disentangled from insecurity and immigration control ». The authors highlight the need for a « dramatic rethinking of EU policies towards third-country nationals » given the ageing demographic transformation taking place in member states: « The EU must become a more welcoming place for those who seek work and will enhance our economy. » 

Without the proper rights and respect, the authors argue, third-country nationals may be unwilling to « invest their energy and vitality in the EU ». They think the key initiative will be to turn around the current deficit which exists in the delivery of fundamental rights to these people. 

Combating social exclusion is identified as another priority. Firstly, complex strategies are required to ensure that « the elderly do not fall into social exclusion and that intergenerational solidarity is a reality, » the paper argues. Moreover, « providing the environment in which the cohort of younger third-country nationals already growing up in the EU are able to realise their potential » is identified as critical. 

The paper concludes that « it is against the very idea of freedom of movement and of citizenship at the EU level to consider neighbours and foreigners as potentially hostile ».