DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS

FECL 23 (March 1994)

EUROPEAN COUNCIL: Prioritair werkprogramma voor 1994 en structuren die op de gebied van justitie en binnenlandse zaken moten worden ingesteld (Work programme for1994 Programme of work having priority and structures to be set up in the domain of Justice and Hoime Affairs) , Brussels, 2.12.93, 10684/93, 11 p., in Dutch. The document contains policy objectives to be implemented in the following fields:

  1. Asylum and immigration; 2. Police and Customs cooperation in the fight against narcotics; 3. Judicial cooperation.

Asylum:
Action required as a consequence of the implementation of the Dublin Convention, a final decision on legal and technical aspects of the Eurodac (fingerprint-database on asylum seekers); Considering a Community approach regarding the setting up of a Convention based on the resolutions (on manifestly unfounded asylum applications and safe third host countries) adopted by the immigration ministers in London (November/December 1992).

Immigration:
Adaption of the Draft Convention on the crossing of external borders required by the entry into force of the Third pillar of the Treaty on European Union, and signing of the Convention; Conclusion of works regarding rules of admission of self-employed, workers and students; The consequences of returning persons to "sensitive countries" (with the participation of the UNHCR); Considering cooperation in carrying out measures of removal and methods enabling better control of irregular foreigners, i.a. by combatting illegal immigration and employment; Feasibility study of an electronic data base for the storage and communication of images of false documents; Drafting of a Community handbook on the control of common external borders; Harmonisation of the situation of third-country long-term residents in EU-Member States; Definition of the principles which must be included in bilateral and multilateral agreements on return.

The following Working groups are set up for the realisation of the above programme of action: Migration; Asylum; Visa; External borders; False documents. The CIREA and CIREFI are to pursue their work.

Police:
Acceleration of work on the draft convention on the setting up of EUROPOL, namely regarding data protection, the role of the national units and the supervision of EUROPOL, in view of concluding the agreement by October 1994; Realisation of the recommendations made by the Ad hoc Group on Organised Crime (see CL No.17, p.9,p.11); The fight against terrorism, including the consideration of visa policies vis à vis states posing a terrorist threat; Cooperation in the field of public order (namely intervention techniques and prevention of group vandalism); Interception of communications (study of legal and technical aspects); Police training; Closer relations with non-EU countries, namely in Central and Eastern Europe.

Customs:
Action programme on an external-borders strategy; Community action regarding air and sea transports, as well as transit passengers; Improvement of the CIS (Customs Information System); Increased cooperation among police and Customs authorities, particularly in the light of the work on the Draft Convention on the EIS (European Information System), and on cross-border crime and illegal immigration.

The following Working Groups are in charge of the above programme: Terrorism; Police cooperation (operational and technical aspects); Drugs and organised crime; Customs; Ad hoc Group Europol.

Judicial cooperation:
The Council has set up a priority programme for 1994. It includes action on extradition in fields covered by judicial cooperation in penal affairs, improvment of mutual judicial assistance namely pertaining to prosecution and the execution of sentences, particularly with respect to international organised crime, and better contacts among the judiciary of the various member states in other possible fields, by the introduction of liaison-magistrates.

Pour le Droit de vivre en Famille des Immigrés en Europe

A comprehensive survey presented by GISTI of legal and administrative policies in Europe infringing on this fundamental right and thirteen concrete proposals for an improvment of the situation.

Published by: Coordination pour les Droits des Immigrés à vivre en Famille, 46 rue de Montreuil, F-75011 Paris; Tel:+33/1 43563498.

EUROPE: MONTREZ LA PATTE BLANCHE! - Les nouvelles frontières du "laboratoire Schengen" , January 1994, edited by Marie-Claire Caloz-Tschopp and Micheline Fontolliet Honoré, 481 p., in French.

A quite unique attempt at genuinely interdisciplinary analysis and reflection on the interrelation of borders and exclusion, asylum and violence in the light of the Schengen process. The book is mainly based on texts presented by some 25 authors on the occasion of of the International Symposium on Violence and the Right of Asylum in Europe, at the University of Geneva, last September. The aim of this book is is not primarily to present a chronology of European debate on the issue, but rather to reveal the spirit and the stakes of the Schengen process in shaping European unity.

In a preface to the book, Professor Lode van Outrive, MEP, writes that "for anybody concerned...with the Europe of the free movement of persons, the following texts are extremely instructive. Undoubtedly, the scientifical analyses are of great use and value. This is true both for those examining the the etymology and history of notions such as refugees , naturalisation , or racism and those focusing on important categories ranging from assimilation , multiculturalism , or integration to psychological, psychoanalytical analysis, or the socio-political study of the Schengen Agreement...".

The book contains contributions of, among others, François Julien-Lafferrière, Georges-Henri Beauthier, François Rigaux, Marie-Claire Caloz-Tschopp, Mike King, Robert Miles, Abdelmalek Sayad, Colette Guillaumin, and Stephen Castles.

Published by: CETIM, 37, Quai Wilson, CH-1201 Geneva; Tel:+41/22 731. The price is sfr.35.- + postage.

The Making of European Immigration Policies , by Jan Niessen, CCME Briefing Paper no.15, February 1994 (available in English, French, Dutch and German).

This paper does not contain an analysis of current migration and refugee policies. Instead, it is an attempt to formulate proposals for European policy-making procedures using existing international fora, and European policies using international human rights standards. Although the proposals concern migration for political, economic and social reasons, the emphasis is on the latter two types of migration.

Available at: CCME, 174 rue Joseph II, B-1040 Brussels, Tel:+32/2 2302011, Fax:+32/2 2311413. Price: 240 bfr/5 /12 DM.

Les Forces de Police dans l'Union Européenne , by Patrice Meyzonnier, February 1994, 370 p., in French.

This book explains the geographical, human, legal and judiciary environment of the national police forces of each of the 12 European Union countries. It provides information about the organisation, structure, recruitement procedures, hierarchy, training, and career opportunities, as well as the political and union rights of the women and men in charge of of Internal Security in Europe.

Published by: l'Harmattan, 7 rue de l'Ecole Polytechnique, F-75005 Paris,; Tel:+33/1 43547910, Fax:+33/1 43258203.

Unlawful Conduct of Police Organs of the Republic of Serbia , Spotlight Report No.9 of the Humanitarian Law Fund, Belgrade, 15.2.94, 4 p. The report names several cases involving harassment, threats, illegal detention, and kidnapping by the State Security Service in the Republic of Serbia.

Published by: The Humanitarian Law Fund, Terazije 6/III, FRY-11000 Belgrade; Tel:+38/11 658430, Fax:+38/11 646341.