Decision 2008/381 - 2008/381/EC: Council Decision of 14 May 2008 establishing a European Migration Network - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 131/7

In 2003 the Commission set up a three-year preparatory action for the establishment of a European Migration Network (‘EMN’), with a view to providing the Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and up-to-date migration data.

The European Council, at its meeting in Thessaloniki in June 2003, taking into account the importance of monitoring and analysing the multidimensional migration phenomenon, welcomed in its Conclusions the establishment of the EMN and stated that it would examine the possibility of setting up a permanent structure in the future.

On 4 November 2004, the European Council endorsed a multiannual programme for strengthening the area of freedom, security and justice, known as the Hague Programme, which calls for the development of the second phase of a common policy in the field of asylum, migration, visas and borders, starting on 1 May 2004, based, inter alia, on closer practical cooperation between Member States and an improved exchange of information. The Hague Programme recognises that ‘The ongoing development of European asylum and migration policy should be based on a common analysis of migratory phenomena in all their aspects. Reinforcing the collection, provision, exchange and efficient use of up-to-date information and data on all relevant migratory developments is of key importance.’

In order to consult relevant stakeholders about the future of the EMN, the Commission adopted on 28 November 2005 a ‘Green Paper on the future of the European Migration Network’ which, in addition to an assessment of the functioning of the EMN during the first years of the preparatory period, also dealt with issues such as the mandate and future structure of the EMN.

The public consultation demonstrated that most stakeholders are in favour of continuing and strengthening the activities of the EMN and maintaining the initial objective of the EMN, that is, to provide up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum issues. It also appeared that most stakeholders wished to maintain the EMN attached to the Commission.

The EMN should avoid duplicating the work of existing Community instruments or structures whose purpose is to collect and exchange information in the areas of migration and asylum and should provide an added value in comparison with them, in particular through the broad scope of its tasks, a strong focus on analysis, links with the academic community and the public availability of its outputs.

Among other existing instruments and structures, Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection (2) constitutes an important reference framework for the functioning of the European Migration Network. Attention should also be paid to the valuable work carried out by the Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on the Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration (Cirefi) and to the provisions of Council Decision 2005/267/EC of 16 March 2005 establishing a secure web-based Information and Coordination Network for Member States’ Migration Management Services (3).

To achieve its objectives, the EMN should be supported by a ‘National Contact Point’ in each Member State. The activities of the National...