Text Minna Suihkonen

Finland´s greatest achievement, in terms of immigration policy, was reaching a wider viewpoint in the debate than earlier, Minna Hulkkonen, Government Counsellor of EU affairs, sums up the results of the Finnish EU presidency.

What was emphasised during the presidency was the collaboration with departure and transit countries. In fact, the most significant event was the Africa-EU Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development held in Tripoli.

– The conference was a political milestone and commitment to do things together from now on, says Deputy Director General Anne Sipiläinen of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

An extensive statement as well as an agenda on human trafficking between the EU and Africa were agreed in Tripoli. Moreover, the conference widened the debate on immigration to a considerable extent.

– The statement takes an overall approach to immigration, which is a big step forward. As late as early last year there was plenty of debate on just tightening up border controls and returning illegal immigrants, Sipiläinen states.

In the statement the focus is on long-term activities, such as, impacting on the development, conflicts and legal immigration in African countries.

Legal immigration is raised as a topic

During the Finnish EU presidency, legal immigration was raised as a topic for debate for other reasons too, Minna Hulkkonen says.

Previously, the member states have held a firm grip on issues related to labour.

In late November the European Commission issued a communication on an overall European policy on immigration with proposals for the EU to provide the third countries with information about how to legally enter the European Union in order to work there and for the third countries to collect information about the professional people available for the EU.

– What´s more, the connection between immigration and development cooperation was reinforced during the Finnish presidency, Hulkkonen relates.

The EU strives to pursue the same goals consistently in its immigration and development policy.

It was during the Finnish presidency that EU ministers for development cooperation had their first meeting with immigration in focus.

Asylum policy is put on hold

In terms of asylum policy, no clear sign of progress was seen although Finland endeavoured to establish the basic guidelines of the second stage of the European asylum system. However, the European Commission was unwilling to discuss the topic openly during the Finnish presidency.

– Besides, many member states expressed their willingness to concentrate first on examining how asylum issues had been dealt with in practice, Hulkkonen says.

At the beginning of the Finnish presidency, there was much debate on preventing illegal immigration. In addition, the first experiences of operations coordinated by Frontex, the EU´s External Borders Agency, were gained.

Frontex carried out border control operations in the Mediterranean and made various feasibility studies on the external border controls of the Union.

– As far as illegal immigration is concerned, it´s high time the established statutes were implemented, Hulkkonen states.

However, one important legislative project was included in the Finnish presidency. At the beginning of Finland´s presidency preparations were made to accelerate the adoption of the Regulation on Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RAPID). The regulation would enable a member country, involved in an unexpected border control situation, to be promptly provided with assistance by means of experts and equipment from other member countries.

Germany will continue the debate with departure countries

According to Minna Hulkkonen, Germany intends to continue mainly from what Finland managed to accomplish. In terms of asylum policy, Germany will focus on evaluating the legislation of the first stage of the joint asylum system and develop the practical cooperation with asylum authorities.

Germany aims to continue the dialogue with departure and transit countries in immigration policy. During the Finnish presidency Africa was in focus, but now Germany is willing to include the countries behind the European south-eastern borders in the debate. In addition, endeavours are made to promote the RAPID regulation further.

This year attempts are made to work on legislation on preventing illegal employment. In the spring of 2007 the Commission intends to make an initiative to impose punishments on employers hiring illegal employees.

– Germany has also set itself a goal to advance in the field of legal immigration, Minna Hulkkonen explains.