11. THE COMMISSION'S LEGISLATIVE AND WORK
PROGRAMME FOR 2003
(23961)
13905/02
COM(02) 590
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The Commission's legislative and work programme for 2003.
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| Legal base: | —
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| Document originated: | 30 October 2002
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| Deposited in Parliament: | 12 November 2002
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| Department: | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration: | Minister's letter of 6 February 2003
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| Previous Committee Report: | HC 63-iv (2002-03), paragraph 16 (11 December 2002)
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| To be discussed in Council: | Presented to the Council on 18 November 2002
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| Committee's assessment: | Politically important
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| Committee's decision: | Cleared (decision reported on 11 December 2002)
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Background
11.1 When we cleared this document in December, we made
a number of comments on it. We also asked two specific questions
on issues under the Stability and Security heading.
The Minister's letter
11.2 The Minister for Europe (Mr Denis MacShane) has
now replied. We asked first whether the Minister considered that
the slow progress of immigration and asylum dossiers could in
any way be attributed to their drafting by the Commission, or
whether it was simply that they were very difficult to negotiate.
In his response, the Minister begins by reminding us that the
Tampere European Council called for the development of a common
EU immigration and asylum policy and invited the Commission to
establish a Scoreboard to monitor progress in implementing all
the necessary measures to create an area of freedom, security
and justice.
11.3 The Minister continues:
"The UK has previously called for the use of QMV in the field
of asylum to speed up agreement on the dossiers. Nevertheless,
recent progress in the Council is in line with the timetable established
at the European Council in Seville, June 2002: political agreement
has been reached on the Directive on rules determining the Member
State responsible for the consideration of asylum claims (Dublin
II) and the asylum reception conditions directive has now been
adopted. Both these dossiers represent a significant step towards
the goal of establishing a common European asylum system. We are
confident that the deadlines for the outstanding proposals on
qualification and status of refugees, and common standards for
asylum procedures of June 2003 and the end of 2003 respectively
will be met."
11.4 We also asked whether it made sense for the Commission
to press ahead with new initiatives, such as the "one-stop
shop" for asylum applicants, when there was so much unfinished
business on the table. The Minister notes our concerns but considers
that the Commission proposals help to advance the overall agenda,
by keeping pressure on those who would prefer to go slow on asylum
and immigration issues.
Conclusion
11.5 We do not consider that the Minister has satisfactorily
addressed our first question. He seems instead to be arguing that
progress on asylum measures is now being made. That in
itself is debatable, and throws no light on the reasons for earlier
stalemates.
11.6 With regard to our second question, we find it
hard to understand why new proposals help to advance the overall
agenda. We would have expected them to be unwelcome diversions
from the key task of meeting the deadlines set by the European
Council in Seville.
11.7 Since the document has already been cleared,
we do not intend to pursue these matters further. We put on record,
however, our disappointment with the Minister's response.
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