Common agenda for integration and framework for the integration of third-country nationals in the Union

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Stavros LAMBRINIDIS (PSE, GR) in response to the Commission communication entitled 'A Common Agenda for Integration - Framework for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals in the European Union'. (Please see the summary dated 15/05/2006.) Parliament also asked the Commission to create a permanent contact group of immigrant representatives, experts, NGOs and others to advise it on all policies related to integration. It stressed the importance of the composition of the European institutions' staff and the Member States' public administrations reflecting the composition of the Union's and the Member States' populations.

It went on to urge the Council to use the bridging clause of Article 67(2) of the Treaty to give Parliament co-decision powers on integration and legal migration and qualified majority voting in the Council.

Member States were asked to encourage the political participation of immigrants and discourage their political and social isolation. In this regard, Parliament called calls on the Commission to carry out a legal review of existing provisions relating to European civic citizenship in the various Member States as well as of current Member State practices regarding the right of long-term resident immigrants to vote in local and municipal elections.

Finally, in order especially to prevent the potential maltreatment of immigrant women, Member States were asked to provide them with easily accessible information as regards the legislation of the host country on gender equality and the rights and protection that derive from that legislation, including the available legal and administrative remedies.

It should be noted that this resolution is linked to one on mutual information procedure in the areas of asylum and immigration(see CNS/2005/0204) which was adopted on the same day.