EUROPEAN UNION INITIATIVES IN TACKLING MIGRATION AND ORGANIZED CRIME AT ITS NEW EASTERN BORDER

• Main Author: Adrian Pop
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Institute of Romania 2008-04-01
• Series: Romanian Journal of European Affairs
• Subjects: EU initiatives; EU eastern border; migration; asylum; organized crime
• Online Access: http://www.ier.ro/documente/rjea_vol8_no1/RJEA_Vol8_No1_European_Union_Initiatives_in_Tackling_Migration_and_Organized_Crime_at_its_New_Eastern_Border.pdf

The EU migration strategy in relation to its new eastern neighbours has started to take shape. Among other things, it includes: applying the Global Approach to Migration to the eastern regions neighbouring the EU; securing the necessary funding for migration management through the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) and the Thematic Programme for the cooperation with third countries in the areas of migration and asylum; promoting mobility partnerships and circular migration; concluding short-term visa facilitation and readmission agreements; and opening the first Common Visa Application Centre in the capital city of the Republic of Moldova. In addition, the EU has improved its regional focus by the help of the Black Sea Synergy European Commission Communication and extended for 2008-2009 the mandate of its Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), which is set to tackling irregular migration, drugs and cigarettes smuggling, and stolen cars and guns trafficking.