The Migration Acquisition Handbook:The Foundation for a Common European Migration Policy

Europe has finally started to debate migration. A timely debate indeed, as many migrants have over the last 30 years entered the European Union without the cover of a proper and well-defined policy. Many arguments are being put forward in this respect: Europe faces a shortage of labour, not enough children are being born, future pension bills can not be met, globalization should result in accepting aliens, and so on. Yet, hardly any effort has been undertaken to put all such arguments into their proper context and to list what Europe and the European Union in particular have already agreed upon.
This Migration Acquis Handbook (an equivalent to the Asylum Acquis Handbook fills the many gaps by providing: + an overview of EU instruments in an accessible and transparent manner, with the necessary division as per: entry, sojourn, integration and return; + due attention to EC Commissioner Vitorino’s communication on migration and his call for a debate; + the reproduction of relevant non-European international (UN) instruments; + moreover, an overview of the context and contents of the most hotly-contested issues: ageing and demography, globalization, illegal migration, trafficking and family reunification. This Handbook describes and provides the foundation for a common European Migration Policy and should be considered an extremely useful tool, if not indispendable for the executive, students, policy makers, the media and all others interested in this exceedingly important topic. From the Preface by Dr.Rolf Jenny, Director of the Geneva-based International Migration Policy Programma (IMP) `We believe that this Handbook will significantly contribute to supporting and clarifying the ongoing debate on migration as Europe moves forward with the establishment of a common migration policy, based on co-operation and partnership with migrant source countries, equitable protection and treatment of third-country nationals, and best practices in migration management.
We also believe that the Handbook will contribute to a better overall understanding of the migration challenges at hand, and the gradual development of a ‘common language in migration’ among those who, from often differing perspectives, deal with the matter in sending, transit and receiving countries.’

Author Biography

Dr Peter van Krieken lectures in international law and human rights at Webster University (Leiden and St. Louis) and serves as a special advisor in international affairs with the Netherlands Ministry of Justice/IND. He is in various capacities actively involved in both Eastern and Western Europe in this very field. He has also published with T.M.C.Asser Press The Asylum Acquis Handbook and Health, Migration and Return.