§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with European Union nations concerning asylum and immigration policy since 1 May; what decisions have been made on policy matters; and if he will make a statement. [28845]
§ Mr. StrawSince 1 May 1997, I have attended two formal Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Councils, on 26–27 May and 4–5 December 1997, and two informal JHA Councils, on 9–10 October 1997 and 29–30 January 1998. At each of these, asylum and immigration policy404W has been discussed, as it has usually been at regular bi-lateral meetings with my counterparts from other member states of the European Union.
The decisions on immigration and asylum policy matters adopted by the Council since 1 May 1997 are:
- A resolution on combating marriages of convenience:
- A Decision on the exchange of information concerning assistance for the voluntary repatriation of third-country nationals:
- A Decision on monitoring the implementation of instruments concerning asylum:
- A Resolution on unaccompanied third-country national minors:
- A Joint Action concerning the financing of specific projects in favour of asylum seekers and refugees;
- A Joint Action concerning the financing of specific projects in favour of displaced persons who have found temporary protection in the member states and asylum seekers;
- An Action Plan concerning the influx of migrants from Iraq and the neighbouring region.
Ministers of the member states of the European Union, meeting as the Article 18 Committee—established by the Convention determining the State responsible for examining applications for asylum lodged in one of the member states of the European Communities (Dublin Convention)—have also adopted, since 1 May 1997:
- Rules of procedures of the Committee set up by Article 18 of the Dublin Convention:
- Conclusions on the practical application of the Dublin Convention.