Assessing EU Policy on Irregular Immigration under the Stockholm Programme

The relationship between EU policy and the rights of undocumented migrants remains in tension. The status and treatment granted to undocumented migrants continues to be ‘invisible’ in EU policy strategies and responses. This is so despite the wide recognition and evidence of the vulnerability and insecurities these persons face in their access to fundamental rights. The ‘policy gap’ between current European policy-making under the third multiannual programme on the Union’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice – the Stockholm Programme – and the results emerging from social science research funded by EU institutions has been assessed and evidenced elsewhere. This collection of papers aims at moving the debate forward by substantiating these findings with the experiences and knowledge of a selected group of EU umbrella (civil society) organisations and practitioners representing key institutions in Europe on fundamental human rights. The papers include three contributions arising from the conference “Undocumented Migrants and the Stockholm Programme: Assuring Access to Rights?” held in Brussels on 9 March 2010. The conference was organised by CEPS, the European Trade Union Confederation, the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants and EUROCITIES. The discussion is expanded by two further contributions, by representatives of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and Council of Europe’s Department of the European Social Charter. This collection concludes with a concrete set of policy recommendations and a four-point plan to reduce ‘irregularity’ in Europe.