The challenges of living in today's global village cannot be met by countries acting alone

12.00.00am GMT Tue 24th Jan 2006

"The challenges of living in today's global village - mass migration, terrorism, organised crime and climate change - cannot be met by countries acting alone", said Graham Watson, Leader of the European Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament who is chairing a working session this afternoon on security and migration policies.

The session is part of a major conference at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels organised by the International Organisation for Migration, the Belgian Government and the Austrian Presidency which will examine all aspects of current and future migration policy challenges in Europe.

"These threats to our security and liberty must be tackled with the same degree of determination and principle as our defence of freedom of movement and expression which characterises our open society," added Watson. "The EU must build on the programme of the Feira Summit in 2000 and the Hague Programme adopted in 2004 to provide real coordinated and integrated actions not just between Member States of the EU, but also with its near neighbourhood to the East and South. In this regard I look forward to the Commission's communication tomorrow on the external dimension of JHA issues."

"Europe needs a comprehensive policy that includes effective border management, efficient police and judicial cooperation and a fully functional and fair asylum and immigration policy. We must encourage new regional initiatives, an EU wide consensus on legal migration for skilled workers and a progressive and inclusive policy on short-term work visas which will facilitate their entry and stay" he concluded.

Note to editors:

The Conference, entitled "Reinforcing the Area of Freedom, Security, Justice and Prosperity in Europe and its neighbouring countries", is taking place in Brussels, at the Palais d'Egmont, on 24-25 January 2006.

It represents the first initiative aimed to promote a comprehensive and horizontal approach to the Hague Programme, the European Neighbourhood Policy, and the Lisbon Agenda.

The Brussels Conference will be attended by 200 participants at the level of Ministers, EU Commissioners, high ranking government and EU officials, leading parliamentarians and heads of international organizations, as well as the international media.