The eu’s miGrATion relATions wiTh menA counTries 151
development aid. The reports were criticised for ref lecting EU priorities
about migration control, readmission and return rather than the pursuit
of partnerships based on real dialogue (Boswell 2003).
The Morocco Plan attracted some specif ic criticisms. First, the pro-
posal for the use of MEDA funds (designed to develop EU-Mediterranean
relations) to analyse migration patterns and instruments led to tension
between the HLWG and Commission off icials working in the areas of
development and external relations. Second, the Moroccan government
was not consulted about the Action Plan and initially refused to discuss
the plan with the EU. Third, there was a lack of coordination between
Justice and Home Affairs, external relations and development within the
EU, although one effect of the HLWG has been to stimulate agenda-setting
activity by Commission off icials working on development and external
relations. Fourth, the HLWG lacked a f inancial basis, although this has
changed, with €15 million allocated for 2003. The HLWG has, for example,
funded a programme encouraging Moroccan migrants to set up businesses
in Morocco and another project to establish a savings bank for the remit-
tances of Moroccan migrants.
In terms of intergovernmental agreement providing an impetus to policy
development, the Tampere conclusions of October 1999 were of great impor-
tance. They emphasised, amongst other things, a ‘root-causes’ approach to
migration and the importance of migration relations with third countries.
The Tampere conclusions outlined components of a ‘common migration and
asylum policy’ that would include ‘a comprehensive approach to migration
addressing political, human rights and development issues in countries and
regions of origin and transit’. Member states were invited ‘to contribute
... to a greater coherence of internal and external policies of the Union.
Partnership with third countries concerned [were regarded] a key element
for the success of such a policy, with a view to promoting co-development’
(European Council 1999).
There was a clear focus in EU policy on asylum, irregular migration,
readmission and return. For example, the Seville European Council Summit
(June 2002) conclusions called for a targeted approach using all EU foreign
policy instruments:
An integrated, comprehensive and balanced approach to tackle the
root causes of irregular immigration must remain the EU’s constant
long-term objective [...] closer economic co-operation, trade expan-
sion, development assistance and conf lict prevention are all means of