Security and reception” “

The question of immigration has by now become an urgent priority in Europe. It is perceived as a worrying problem, incited by the stories in the news every day and by some not always justified psychological pressure. In particular the phenomenon of immigration intersects with the problems of demographic policies, the integration of foreigners in host societies, and the management of refugees and asylum seekers. There are also the questions linked to security that emerged with the rise of international terrorism following the terror attacks on the Twin Towers in New York on 11 September 2001 and the bomb blasts in Madrid and London. MIGRATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA. Particular attention is being devoted, in the institutions of the EU, to the movement of population between continents and the demographic flows of people from the poorest countries to Europe. The activities of CARIM, the Euro-Mediterranean Consortium for Applied Research on International Migrations, are placed in this context. Created by the Office for Humanitarian Aid of the European Commission (ECHO) in early 2004, the agency has the objective of furnishing updated data, statistics and analyses on migratory flows in the Old Continent and in surrounding regions. The first annual Report on Mediterranean migrations (with figures referring to 2005) was presented at CARIM in recent days. It presents “a regional picture of the situation, followed by a section dedicated to each of the ten Mediterranean countries of the Middle East and North Africa, i.e. the so-called Med-Mena: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Palestinian Territories, Tunisia and Turkey”. The Report also contains “information on the demographic, economic, legal and political dimension of migrations”. It says: “A new type of migration has emerged. It involves people with high levels of education in scientific, professional or intellectual disciplines”. a sOUTH-nORTH PERSPECTIVE. CARIM’s Report for 2005 holds out some surprises on migration in the Mediterranean: it points out, for example, that “the Med-Mena countries, though remaining an important source of emigration, are at the same time a region of transit and final destination for migrants”. As for the destinations of migratory flows, the European Union remains the preferred goal for half of emigrants from Africa and the Middle East. The 25 EU member states are followed by the oil-producing Arab states and Libya. The USA and Canada follow as goals, but at a distance. According to the Vice-President of the European Commission, FRANCO FRATTINI, responsible for immigration within the Executive, “this Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the question” and is “the first to furnish a South-North perspective and not vice versa”. The Commission considers the results published by the Report “very important”, “because they offer a picture of national immigration policies in the Mediterranean region in 2005” and “enable us better to understand the links between migration and development”. IMMIGRATION POLICY. The complexity and urgency of the question were recently underlined during the inter-institutional debate held at the European Parliament on 12-13 October. DOUGLAS ALEXANDER, speaking in the chamber in the name of the British Presidency of the EU Council, explained that “the wave of refugees, with losses of life, in [the Spanish enclaves of] Ceuta and Melilla and at Lampedusa, has once again placed the problem of immigration under the spotlight. However, the problem goes well beyond these episodes. It is becoming a common concern and does not just regard the member states directly involved”. The Council intends to “cooperate with third countries and provide them with greater technical and financial support”, so as to promote economic development and the raising of living standards, by tackling the phenomenon of migration at its root. According to the minister, “the measures adopted to protect frontiers must not however be confused with immigration policy”. INSTITUTIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY, CHURCHES. For his part EU Commissioner JÁN FIGEL presented the measures being taken by the Executive. He recalled that in September the Commission had adopted “a series of measures for the integration of legal migrants and for the repatriation of illegal ones, while guaranteeing human rights”. The Barroso Commission is also “drawing up an action plan on legitimate immigration” which should be published in November. European civil society, the various associations, charitable institutions and aid organizations are working at the level of the first reception of immigrants, and also on the intercultural and interfaith aspects. The position of the Churches and church commissions that work on the field of immigration, published earlier this week, in response to the EU green paper on demographic changes, should be interpreted in this sense. About this theme on 20th October, in Croatia, started the 7th Congress Ccee on migration.