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The Amsterdam Proposals: The ILPA/MPG proposed directives on immigration and asylum

On 1 May 1999 the Amsterdam Treaty came into force giving the European Community new responsibilities and obligations in the field of immigration and asylum.

In this report expert lawyers – in practice, academia and non-governmental organisations – from a number of states have come together to prepare proposals for directives covering six aspects of immigration and asylum:

  • asylum
  • family reunion
  • long-term residents
  • visas and border control
  • admission of migrants
  • irregular migrants

Each of these subject areas commences with a detailed explanatory memorandum which sets out the legal and political considerations relevant to each area. This is followed bu a proposal for a directive to give effect to the new powers of the Community in each area in accordance with the appropriate legal principles and political considerations.

The drafting of each proposed directive was supervised by an expert committee, which deliberated on the framework and specifics of the field. In each area, the second draft proposal was the subject of a seminar at which legal experts from across the Community were invited to discuss the approach and provisions.

The proposals are presented to assist policy makers in Europe with the legal and practical approach to the exercise of the Community’s powers in the field.