14 years after the Tampere European Council in 1999, Cecilia Malmström assessed the achievements accomplished and the remaining challenges concerning asylum and migration policy in the European Union.

14 years ago, the European Council held a special meeting that set the milestones for the development of a European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. On that occasion, the Tampere program was agreed upon, providing a framework for a Common European Asylum System (CEAS). In 2008 the EU Council started to revise the set of EU asylum laws. Earlier this year, agreements were finally concluded on these laws. A new Agency – the European Asylum Support Office, or EASO – was also created specifically to assist Member States in implementing EU asylum law and to enhance the practical cooperation. It is important now to establish a coherent implementation across the EU to ensure a solid European Asylum System also in practice

Moving on to migration, Cecilia Malmström stressed the growing importance of legal migration for the European Union, and its impact on economic growth and competitiveness, demographic challenges, social cohesion, cultural diversity and external relations. In this regard, new directives are in process of negotation, generally striving to make the European Union more attractive for (future) employees. It is also important to step up integration efforts.

Finally, Cecilia Malmström mentioned the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM), the overarching framework of the EU external migration policy. She also underlined the need and current opportunity to harness the benefits of migration.

The full speech can be read here.