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UNION
EXPLAINED
Migration
and asylum
Building an
open and safe
Europe
Migr at io n t o E ur o p e is a l o ngs t an d ing
p hen o m en o n . To s eize t he
o p p o r t un it ies and c o n f r o n t t he
c hal l enges engen d er ed by t his kind of
in t er nat io nal m o b il it y, t he Eur o p ean
U nio n ( EU ) is d evel o p ing a c o m m o n
ap p r o ac h t o m igr at io n. Likewis e, t he
EU has d evel o p ed a C o m m o n Eur o p ean
As yl um S ys t em t o p r o t ec t t ho s e
s eek in g r ef uge in Eur o p e f r o m
p er s ec ut io n o r r is k o f s er io us har m
in t heir ho m e c o unt r y. Wo r k in t hese
p o l ic y ar eas al s o in vo l ves c l o s er
d ial o gue and c o o p er at io n wit h
no n -EU c o unt r ies .
CONTENTS
Why we need a common policy
on immigration
Immigration: more an opportunity
than a challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
http://europa.eu/pol/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu/!bY34KD
The EU explained:
Migration and asylum
European Commission
Directorate-General for Communication
Citizens information
1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
Manuscript updated in November 2014
Cover and page 2 picture: ccvision.de
12 pp. 21 29.7 cm
ISBN 978-92-79-42288-1
doi:10.2775/6639
Luxembourg: Publications Office
of the European Union, 2014
European Union, 2014
Reproduction is authorised. For any use or reproduction
of individual photos, permission must be sought directly
from the copyright holders.
M I G R A T I O N
A N D
A S Y L U M
EU citizens
487 million (96 %)
Source: Eurostat.
T H E
E U R O P E A N
U N I O N
E X P L A I N E D
M I G R A T I O N
A N D
A S Y L U M
Monalyn Gracia/Corbis
Paul Burns/Corbis
E U R O P E A N
U N I O N
E X P L A I N E D
T H E
700 000
600 000
500 000
400 000
300 000
200 000
100 000
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
Source: Eurostat.
M I G R A T I O N
A N D
A S Y L U M
250 000
200 000
150 000
100 000
50 000
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
Source: Eurostat.
European Union
T H E
E U R O P E A N
U N I O N
E X P L A I N E D
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
United Kingdom
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden
Romania
Portugal
Poland
Netherlands
Malta
Latvia
Luxembourg
Lithuania
Italy
Ireland
Hungary
Croatia
Greece
France
Finland
Spain
Estonia
Denmark
Germany
Czech Republic
Cyprus
Bulgaria
Belgium
0
Austria
400
Outlook
The EU will continue its efforts to find common
solutions to the immigration challenge for the benefit
of both European societies and those moving to Europe
to seek a better life. The EUs approach towards
migration cannot be one-sided; instead, it must be
balanced, comprehensive and anchored in respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms. Immigration
is in the EUs own long-term interest, especially when
considering the demographic projections and the ageing
of the EUs population. The EU needs to become an
attractive migration destination; it needs to respond to
M I G R A T I O N
A N D
A S Y L U M
400 000
350 000
300 000
250 000
200 000
150 000
100 000
50 000
Source: Eurostat.
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
10
T H E
E U R O P E A N
U N I O N
E X P L A I N E D
M I G R A T I O N
A N D
11
A S Y L U M
T H E
E U R O P E A N
U N I O N
E X P L A I N E D
Outlook
The EU has been working over the past few years to
improve the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).
The legislation has recently been updated in order to
further harmonise EU Member States asylum practices
with a view to making them faster, fairer and more
efficient. This is not only in the interest of EU Member
States, but will also guarantee asylum seekers equal
opportunities for protection throughout the Union. Now,
the EU needs to ensure that its Member States apply
ISBN 978-92-79-42288-1
doi:10.2775/6639
NA-06-14-045-EN-C
12