The EU member states are in the middle of the most extensive legal harmonisation since the internal market: the development of a common European asylum and migration policy.

Issues concerning asylum and migration evoke strong feelings. Some fear mass influx of immigrants, whereas others on the contrary are concerned that the EU is building a "fortress" around its borders and that the member states are getting too repressive in attempting to control migration. Both these rather extreme views are wrong.

I think we should see the absolute right to asylum and other forms of protection for people who have had to flee from persecution, war or torture as a backbone of a more wide-stretching EU migration policy. I also think we should have rules that open for some immigration to our countries. I think the development of a multicultural society ¡V though not free from frictions ¡V will enrich our societies in a positive way.

My long term vision is a world where we in principle can have free movement across borders. But we are not there yet, and for the foreseeable future, we need to regulate immigration to our countries. Otherwise, the strains on the systems of our present societies would be too strong ¡V both for countries of emigration and of immigration.

A common European asylum and migration system serves three main purposes: