Immigration: liaison officers network

The European Parliament adopted by 578 votes to 34, with 60 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network (ILO).

It adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure). The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council. They amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Meetings: it is provided that Representatives of the Commission and the FRONTEX Agency may participate in meetings initiated by Member States between the immigration liaison officers posted in a particular third country or region. Other bodies and authorities, such as the European Asylum Support Office and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), could also be invited.

Asylum seekers: amongst the matters to be discussed in immigration officers networks, Members included exchanging information, when appropriate, on experience regarding asylum seekers' access to protection.

Report on the activities of the ILOs’ networks: the Presidency’s report on the activities of immigration liaison officers’ networks in matters relating to illegal immigration must take into consideration all the relevant aspects, including human rights. The Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union or, if this Member State is not represented in the country or region, the Member State serving as acting Presidency shall draw up, by the end of each semester, a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the activities of immigration liaison officers networks in specific regions and/or countries of particular interest to the Union, as well as on the situation in those regions and/or countries, in matters relating to illegal immigration, taking into consideration all the relevant aspects, including human rights. The selection of the specific regions and/or countries of particular interest to the Union shall be based on objective migratory indicators, such as statistics on illegal immigration, and risk analyses and other relevant information or reports prepared by Frontex and the European Asylum Support Office, and shall take into consideration the overall Union external relations policy.

Lastly, the Commission shall also take into consideration human rights aspects where relevant, in providing a factual summary and, where appropriate, recommendations to the European Parliament and to the Council, on an annual basis, on the development of the immigration liaison officers networks.