EU needs comprehensive approach to migration

5.03.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 16th May 2007

The European Commission is set to adopt today (16th May) a package of immigration measures, among which a proposal for EU-wide criminal action against employers of illegal immigrants and series of three green papers on aspects of legal migration.

Commenting ahead of the adoption of these proposals, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokeswoman, said:

"While measures to stop the employment of millions of illegal immigrants in the EU are welcome, we are still far from seeing a balanced and comprehensive as opposed to piecemeal European policy on migration.

"This must involve all Member States, deliver free movement for all EU workers including from eastern Europe and a comprehensive legal framework for economic migration from outside the EU. It must also include fair trade, aid and environmental policies and EU global championing of human rights.

"The UK stance does not help at all. The refusal by successive Tory and Labour governments to engage in European migration policies undermines the goal of a workable and credible solution for the whole EU.

"Any proposal for criminal sanctions must leave room for flexible implementation by Member states, and also put as much emphasis on protecting exploited migrants as on punishing employers. If through covering only non-EU migrants this measure omits the abuse of eastern Europeans by gangmasters, it will leave a gaping hole."

ENDS