Whose Freedom, Security and Justice?


Book Description

This book brings together contributions from some of the leading authorities in the field of EU immigration and asylum law to reflect upon developments since the Amsterdam Treaty and, particularly, the Tampere European Council in 1999. At Tampere, Heads of State and Government met to set guidelines for the implementation of the powers and competences introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty and make the development of the Union as an area of freedom, security and justice a reality. Since 1999, a substantial body of law and policy has developed, but the process has been lengthy and the results open to critique. This book presents a series of analyses of and reflections on the major legal instruments and policy themes, with the underlying question, to what extent the ideals held out of 'freedom, security and justice accessible to all', are in fact reflected in these legislative and policy developments. Has freedom from terrorism and the spectre of illegal or irregular migration, and increasingly strict border securitisation and surveillance overshadowed the freedom of the migrant to seek entry or residence for legitimate touristic, work, study, or family reasons, a secure refuge from persecution, and effective access to justice? In 2004, the Heads of State and Government presented a programme for the next stage of development in these areas, the Hague Programme, and the Directives and Regulations that have been agreed are now being transposed and applied in Member States legal systems. What are the main challenges in the years ahead as the Hague Programme and the existing legislative acquis are implemented?







The Ashgate Research Companion to Migration Law, Theory and Policy


Book Description

This companion takes stock of the current state of literature on migration law, theory and policy, and sketches out the contours of its future long-term development in what is now a vastly expanded research agenda, thereby providing a definitive and dependable state-of-the-art review of current research in each of the chosen areas.




The European Union as an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice


Book Description

This book presents a collection of essays on key topics and new perspectives on the EU’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ) and has a Foreword by the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Prof. Dr. Koen Lenaerts. Europe’s area of freedom, security and justice is of increasing importance in contemporary EU law and legislation. It is worthy of special research attention because of its high-stakes content (particularly from an individual and a state perspective) and because its development to date has tangentially thrown up some of the most important and contentious constitutional questions in EU law. As the AFSJ becomes more and more intertwined with ‘mainstream’ EU law, this edited collection provides a timely analysis of the merger between the two. Showcasing a selection of work from key thinkers in this field, the book is organised around the major AFSJ themes of crime, security, border control, civil law cooperation and important ‘meta’ issues of governance and constitutional law. It also analyses the major constitutional and governance challenges such as variable geometry, institutional dynamics, and interface with rights around data protection/secrecy/spying. In the concluding section of the book the editors consider the extent to which the different facets of the AFSJ can be construed in a coherent and systematic manner within the EU legal system, as well as identifying potential future research agendas. The European Union as an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice will be of great interest to students and scholars of European law and politics.




Access to Justice for Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Europe


Book Description

Further to the 28th Conference of European Ministers of Justice (Lanzarote, Spain, 25-26 October 2007), the Council of Europe has continued working on access to justice for migrants and asylum seekers. This publication contains an assessment of the situation faced by this vulnerable category of persons in accessing justice. It deals in particular with the identification of measures - both existing and new - for facilitating and ensuring such access for these people.




REGINE - Regularisations in Europe


Book Description

REGINE is a research project on regularisation practices in the European Union. The aim of the project is to provide a thorough mapping of practices relating to the regularisation of third country nationals illegally resident in EU Member States. Two additional non-EU countries - Switzerland and the US - will also be covered to gain insights in regularisation practices and the impact of regularisations elsewhere. In examining regularisation practices, the project also investigates the relationship of regularisation policies to the overall migration policy framework, including to protection issues and refugee policies. Moreover, the project examines the political position of different stakeholders towards regularisation policies on the national level. Finally, the project examines potential options for policies on regularisation on the European level, incorporating Member States as well as other stakeholders' views on possible instruments on the European level.




Study on Obstacles to Effective Access of Irregular Migrants to Minimum Social Rights


Book Description

This publication examines the minimum level of social rights which illegal migrants are entitled to in Council of Europe countries, as well as obstacles to access. This is done in the light of the Council of Europe's concern to promote human rights, maintain social cohesion and prevent racism and xenophobia, in counterbalance to the more restrictive approach to illegal migration adopted by the EU. Topics covered are rights in relation to housing, education, social security, health, social and welfare services, fair employment conditions and residence rights.




The Area of Freedom, Security and Justice Ten Years on


Book Description

This book celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ) by bringing together the views of key practitioners and policy-makers who have played an outstanding role in thinking about and shaping EU policies on freedom, security and justice. Ten years ago, the member states transferred competences to the EU for law and policy-making in the fields of immigration, asylum and border controls, and began the transfer process for criminal justice and policing. This decade of European cooperation on AFSJ policies has experienced very dynamic convergence, the enactment of a large body of European law and the setting-up of numerous EU agencies working in these domains. Such dynamism in policy-making has not been without challenges and vulnerabilities, however. As this collective volume shows, the main dilemmas that lie ahead relate to an effective (while more plural) institutional framework under the Treaty of Lisbon, stronger judicial scrutiny through a greater role for national courts and the Court of Justice in Luxembourg, better mechanisms for evaluating and monitoring the implementation of EU AFSJ law and a more solid fundamental rights strategy. The contributions in this volume address the progress achieved so far in these policy areas, identify the challenges for future European cooperation in the AFSJ and put forward possible paths for making more progress in the next generation of the EU's AFSJ. Book jacket.