EC/Indonesia Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation: matters related to readmission

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by ANA GOMES (S&D, PT) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Indonesia, of the other part, as regards matters related to readmission.

The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement. It also recommended that in the future, EU and Indonesia should develop a fully-fledged readmission agreement, by implementing the enabling clause of the article 34(4) from the PCA between the EU and Indonesia. In this case, readmission will also include third country nationals as well as stateless persons, which is important since Indonesia is a major transit country for irregular migration to the EU.

Members recalled that Indonesia is the first ASEAN country to sign with the EU a PCA with a readmission agreement clause in order to prevent and control irregular immigration in compliance with international obligations and the non refoulement principle.