Free movement of workers and their families: abolition of restrictions on movement and residence

Following the discussion held by the Internal Market Council on 28 May, and in response to a request made at that time by the French delegation in particular, the Council examined a number of issues that had been raised by the proposal for a directive put forward by the Commission on 24 August 1995. In this connection, the Council noted the statements made by several delegations, which indicated among other things that as well as pursuing the objective of providing freedom of movement for persons within the Community the proposals concerned important issues such as immigration and homeland security. It had been recognised that these aspects, along with accompanying measures designed to achieve the effective abolition of internal border checks, came under the provisions of the third pillar. One of the delegations repeated that it was opposed in principle to the approach being adopted by the Commission, though this did not rule out some element of cooperation in this area between the Member States within the framework of the third pillar. The Commission for its part indicated that it would keep its proposals as they were until Parliament had given its opinion, which was expected in July. In conclusion, the President asked the Permanent Representatives Committee to continue with its work of examining the proposals concerned with a view to the discussions being resumed within the Council (Internal Market/Justice and Home Affairs).