The minister of Interior Giannis Michelakis, addressed the Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament (LIBE) yesterday, 1 April 2014, in Brussels. The minister presented the state of affairs regarding the implementation of the priorities of the Greek Presidency, as well as the outcome of the recent JHA Council that took place on 3-4 March 2014.

 

More specifically, the minister of Interior mentioned the progress in the discussions aiming at formulating the strategic guidelines in the JHA area (Post-Stockholm Programme) so that these are adopted by the European Council in June 2014.  These discussions were held during the informal JHA Council in January, as well as in the JHA Council on 3 and 4 March 2014. In addition, the proposals by the European Commission are being carefully examined and observed. 

 

Moreover, Mr Michelakis informed the Committee on the legislation developments in the area of legal migration, namely: 

- the agreement achieved by the Council and the European Parliament on the Directive on  seasonal  workers;

- the compromise reached on the Directive for intercorporate transfers, expressing the wish that this is confirmed at the European Parliament plenary in April, and

- the highest possible intensification of the work in progress regarding the Proposal on the recast of non-EU students and researchers  that were initiated already during the Irish Presidency.

 

In addition, Mr Michelakis expressed his thanks to the competent rapporteurs and the chair of the LIBE Committee for their help and support towards the Greek EU Council Presidency, especially in regard to the discussions on the legislative proposals.

Finally, the minister informed the Committee on the very important EU-Tunisia Mobility Partnership concluded in Brussels, on 3 March 2014, in the margins of the JHA Council. He also referred to the goal of Greek Presidency to adopt the Council’s Conclusions on the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility.