According to the magazine 'Europa', these data reflect a steady proportional growth of immigrants in the British Isles, as indeed in all countries of the European Union. These are future EU citizens who will add to the local labor market, which is increasingly in need due to an aging population. But far less pleasing to Brussels and the authorities of the 'twenty-five' are the growing flows of illegal immigrants, who bring with them a host of problems.
The discussion on necessary measures regarding this phenomenon has entered a new round. Vice-President of the European Commission Franco Frattini, responsible for freedom, security and justice, and Commission member Vladimir Špidla, in charge of employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, presented in January to the European Parliament a 'Green Paper' on economic immigrants. It states, in particular, that by 2030 the EU countries will need at least 20 million foreign workers, who are essential for the normal development of the Old World's economy.
With the publication of the document, the EU executive body aims to provoke a broad discussion of this controversial issue among all interested parties in order to develop common rules for regulating the inflow of immigrants. Frattini stressed that each Union country will retain the authority to independently determine its quota for admitting arrivals from third countries or the number of illegal immigrants whose status it intends to legalize. 'But at the same time, a single, harmonized approach to the conditions of admission to the EU must be ensured,' he believes. The consultations should be completed by mid-July, when the European Commission will present its own final opinion.
Among the main ways to solve the problem, Brussels cites the issuance of green cards, as practiced by the US authorities, or the creation of a kind of exchange where requests and offers for foreign labor would be received and accumulated.
In principle, the foundations of a coordinated immigration policy were laid by the Union back in 1999, and it was possible to introduce minimum standards on the issue of asylum. However, the main lines of this course, as well as the possibility of their coordination, are still actively debated due to differing views. Decision-making in this area is complicated by the use of the principle of unanimity, as well as the right of each country to resort to a veto. A qualitative shift in this direction is expected after the entry into force of the European constitution.
For example, in Germany in 2000, an attempt was made to introduce something like a green card, aimed primarily at qualified foreign specialists in the field of information technology. However, opposition forces sharply opposed this decision, raising the slogan "We need children, not Indians!", fearing that the quota of 75,000 'wanted' immigrants would be significantly exceeded by 'unwanted' ones.
As a result, the number of five-year permits issued had to be reduced to 20,000, and by the end of 2004 fewer than 18,000 people had actually applied for the green card. The Germans considered the quota system ineffective and abolished it on January 1 of this year, preferring a law that opens the door slightly to foreigners: now they can enter Germany regardless of their profession, but must be qualified workers.
The Italian authorities were the first in the EU to show generosity of spirit, legalizing the status of as many as 635,000 immigrants in 2002. This year, the government, at the insistence of entrepreneurs, is preparing to announce a quota for admitting 150,000 foreign workers to the Apennines. True, about half of them are residents of the ten new countries that joined the EU.
From now on, legal rules provide for the admission to Italian territory of workers and employees who have managed to conclude a contract with local firms or institutions. In addition, in an attempt to curb growing immigration, Italy has signed a number of bilateral agreements with some countries, for example Albania, under which they undertake to control their borders more effectively in exchange for a quota for their surplus labor. Nevertheless, Italian newspapers are still full of reports of ever more uninvited guests arriving on the peninsula, often risking their lives during sea voyages.
Spain is also considered by many foreigners, especially residents of Latin America, not only as a historical homeland but also as a very attractive place for modern life. According to experts, about 2.5 million immigrants currently live in the Pyrenean country, making up 6.2% of the total population. Moreover, about 850,000 people are in an illegal situation.
The government of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, which came to power in the spring of 2004, announced its decision to change policy in this area. With the support of business associations and trade unions, from February 1, 2005, it established a strict link between labor market needs and the scale of admission. From now on, any immigrant will be able to "come out of the shadows" if they present a labor contract of at least one year. Spain currently accounts for 23% of all illegal immigrants in the EU.
It is expected that hundreds of thousands of people will immediately want to legalize their status in Spain. This step by the authorities pursues at least two important goals: to strike a blow at the local mafia that mercilessly exploits disenfranchised foreign workers, and to increase contributions to social funds...
Such a display of goodwill is accompanied by a tightening of control measures along the EU perimeter. In May of this year, the European Agency for the Protection of External Borders will begin operations. However, according to Frattini, 'Europe will never go so far as to deploy gunboats in the Mediterranean, but will continue to adhere to the tradition of solidarity, which prefers prevention to repression.'