GOVERNMENT SESSION: Asylum and Migration Policy Slovenia's Priority within Tampere II
Slovenia, which lies at the crossroads of migration currents, would advocate a comprehensive and balanced migration policy and would support measures aimed at preventing illegal migration. Asylum and migration policy are Slovenia's priorities within the Tampere II programme, the second phase of the development of an area of freedom, security and justice in the EU.
The programme was on the government agenda on Thursday, as the issue is set to be discussed by the European Council in November.
Slovenia will also back the development of integrated management of external EU borders, advocating a distribution of the financial and other burden among all member states.
Tampere II foresees a stronger partnership and cooperation between the EU and third countries in the management of migration. Slovenia believes that efforts should be made to fight poverty in transit countries and countries with high emigration rates. It also supports the cutting of red-tape in asylum procedures.
Slovenia supported EU measures in the fight against terrorism and also welcomed the cooperation among national police administrations and the formation of common investigation teams. It also backs closer cooperation between Europol and Eurojust.
The Tampere II agenda is being drafted after the European Commission found that most of the original Tampere programme, adopted in 1999, had not been implemented.
The document will be drafted for the 2004-2009 period, the EU's next financial perspective foresees twice as much funds for its implementation (EUR 4.5bn).
Slovenia advocated the use of biometrics on visa, the introduction of a visa information system and EU passports.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|