Regulation (EU) No 493/2011 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 1 U.K. Amendments

Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 is amended as follows:

(1)

Article 3 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, the second sentence is deleted;

(b)

the following paragraph is added:

‘3. The information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be made available on the secure web-based Information and Coordination Network for Member States’ Migration Management Services established by Council Decision 2005/267/EC(1) (ICONet) under the section dedicated to immigration liaison officers networks. The Commission shall also provide that information to the Council.’;

(2)

Article 4 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, the second indent is replaced by the following:

• ‘exchange information and practical experience, in particular at meetings and via ICONet,

• exchange information, where appropriate, on experience regarding asylum seekers’ access to protection,’;

(b)

paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

‘2. Representatives of the Commission and the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004(2) may participate in the meetings organised within the framework of the immigration liaison officers network, although, if operational considerations so require, meetings may be held in the absence of those representatives. Other bodies and authorities may also be invited, as appropriate.’;

(c)

paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

‘3. The Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union shall take the initiative to hold such meetings. If the Member State holding the Presidency is not represented in the country or region concerned, it is up to the Member State serving as acting Presidency to take the initiative to hold the meeting. Such meetings may also be held at the initiative of other Member States.’;

(3)

Article 6 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 6

1. The Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union or, where that Member State is not represented in the country or region concerned, the Member State serving as acting Presidency shall draw up, by the end of each semester, a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the activities of immigration liaison officers networks in specific countries and/or regions of particular interest to the Union, as well as on the situation in those countries and/or regions, in matters relating to illegal immigration, taking into consideration all the relevant aspects, including human rights. The selection, following a consultation with the Member States and the Commission, of the specific countries and/or regions of particular interest to the Union shall be based on objective migratory indicators, such as statistics on illegal immigration, and risk analyses and other relevant information or reports prepared by Frontex and the European Asylum Support Office, and shall take into consideration the overall Union external relations policy.

2. The Member State’s reports referred to in paragraph 1 shall be drawn up in accordance with the model established by Commission Decision 2005/687/EC of 29 September 2005 on the format for the report on the activities of immigration liaison officers networks and on the situation in the host country in matters relating to illegal immigration(3) and shall indicate the relevant selection criteria.

3. The Commission shall, on the basis of the Member State’s reports referred to in paragraph 1, taking into consideration human rights aspects where relevant, provide a factual summary and, where appropriate, recommendations to the European Parliament and to the Council, on an annual basis, on the development of immigration liaison officers networks.’.

(1)

OJ L 83, 1.4.2005, p. 48.’;

(2)

OJ L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 1.’;

(3)

OJ L 264, 8.10.2005, p. 8.’.