§ Lord Brabazon of Taraasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will report on the recent meeting of European Community immigration and Trevi Ministers.
Viscount AstorThe meeting of immigration and police Ministers took place in Copenhagen on 1st and 2nd June.
Ministers considered progress in relation to the implementation of free movement of persons in accordance with Article 8A of the Treaty of Rome, and, in pursuance of the conclusions of the European Council in Edinburgh, they considered the terms of their report to the European Council in Copenhagen.
Ministers took note of several papers submitted by the Ad Hoc Group on Immigration concerning the asylum work programme and preparation for the implementation of the Dublin Convention on Asylum, and the draft External Frontiers Convention. They approved a resolution on the reception of particularly vulnerable groups of people from the former Yugoslavia.
Ministers adopted a resolution on the harmonisation of national policies on family reunification, and a recommendation on checks on, and the expulsion of, third country nationals residing or working in member states without authorisation.
Discussion at the meeting of Trevi Ministers on 2nd June focused on the establishment of EUROPOL and in particular the EUROPOL Drugs Unit. Ministers signed the Ministerial Agreement on the establishment of the EUROPOL Drugs Unit and invited the forthcoming European Council in Copenhagen to come to a decision on its location. They also discussed reports and proposals from working groups on matters including terrorism, organised attacks on foreigners, environmental crime, international motorcycle gangs, money laundering and co-operation with Eastern Europe.
Copies of the recommendations and resolutions approved by the immigration Ministers, together with 57WA the Ministerial Agreement on Europol and the press communiqués issued following the meetings are being placed in the Library of the House.