Immigration Policy

Full Minutes of the Meetings

Meeting of Wednesday, December 18, 2002

Immigration Policy

Karamanou (PSE). – Mr. President, Mr. Commissioner, with the dawn of 2003, the Greek Presidency takes on the responsibility of bringing to life the decisions made in Amsterdam, Tampere, and Seville. Greece, with its extensive maritime borders, is the external border of the European Union with countries in Asia, countries that significantly contribute to the migratory flows towards Europe. For this reason, it is of particular importance that the Greek Presidency reaches a policy framework that will fairly distribute the obligations and responsibilities among the EU Member States.

Of course, I would like to emphasize, as other colleagues have done, that immigration policy does not only mean border protection. It does not only mean repressive measures, repatriation, or readmission. It also means recognition of human rights, fundamental labor and political rights of migrants, recognition of their contribution, their contribution to the development of Europe. It means full recognition of rights for those who have completed 5 years of residence in the European Union, as we have repeatedly proposed as Parliament. It also means recognition of the right to apply for and be granted asylum for women who leave their countries under the threat of religious fundamentalism or the imposition of barbaric traditions and practices that conflict with the modern conception of respect for human rights.