Strengthening the Area of Freedom and Security

Free movement of persons 

Establishing an effective free movement of persons across Europe, ensuring access of new Member-States to the Schengen
Information System through the Portuguese SISone4ALL proposal, aiming at abolishing internal EU borders control between December 2007 and March 2008.

Global Approach of Migrations

Extending the Global Approach on Migrations to Africa and to the Mediterranean through partnerships between the EU and African and Mediterranean countries where migratory flows originate and go through. This should follow a global and balanced view that includes the promotion of legal immigration channels – in particular circular migration, development aid, readmission and fighting illegal immigration and trafficking in persons. Note, in particular:

-Legal immigration

Development of the legal immigration policy, based on two proposals that will be presented by the Commission: a Directive establishing the common rights of third country nationals working legally in a Member-State and a Directive on the admission and residence conditions of highly qualified workers; this presentation is scheduled to the “High Level Conference on Legal Immigration” that will be held on 13 and 14 September, in Lisbon.

-Illegal immigration
  
Fighting illegal immigration and employment, by examining the proposal for a Directive on common regulations and procedures for Member-States for the return of third country nationals in an irregular situation and discussion of the proposal for a Directive on sanctions to the employers of illegal immigrants.

External dimension

The external dimension of the migration policy will also be a priority and the Global Approach to Migration will extend to neighboring EU areas on the East and on the Southeast. The 1st Euromed Ministers Meeting on Migrations will be held on 18 and 19 November, in the Algarve.

Strengthening the external border 

Strengthening the EU external border, in particular Europe’s southern coastline border by advancing projects developed within the   the Global Approach to Migrations, namely by: 
 - building expert teams for quick intervention on external borders;
 - establishing a European Patrol network; and
 - establishing the European Southern Coastline Borders Vigilance System.

Asylum 

Discussions will be initiated on a common European asylum system based on the Green Book. Answers to the Green Book will be publicly presented in Brussels, on 18 October. The session will be attended by Mr. Rui Pereira, current JHA President and Portuguese Minister of Home Affairs, by Mr. Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the European Commission and by Mr. António Guterrres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Police co-operation and fight against terrorism

Prüm Agreement and availability principle: consolidation of the Prüm Agreement into the acquis communautaire and especially the practical enforcement of Prüm will continue;

Within the fight against terrorism framework we will continue Europen Union efforts to enforce the European Strategy in the fight against Terrorism.

Bio preparedness: in order to increase the effectiveness of national and European actions aimed at preventing and limiting terrorist attacks – namely biological – the Portuguese Presidency aims to adopt Council conclusions   for further development in this area;

The goal is to improve security in the exploitation, manufacture, handling and transportation of explosives in the European Union. Hence, following the 2005 communication of the Commission on security of explosives, the “European Plan for enhancing the security of explosives” should be adopted. A Seminar will be held for that purpose in Braga, on 16 and 17 July.

During the Presidency, the Union will carry out a crises management exercise upon the termination of which Council Conclusions should be adopted establishing future guidelines.

Civil Protection

The Presidency aims to finalize the proposal for a Directive on Critical Infrastructure Protection, so as to reach an agreement on the definition of critical infrastructure on European level and promote the discussion on the establishment of an early tsunami detection and alert system in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic. A “Seminar on early tsunami detection systems” will be held in the Algarve on 16 and 17 July.