Immigration policy: sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals

2007/0094(COD)

The Council held a policy debate on two key issues in this proposal:

  1. the inclusion of minimum rules for criminal sanctions against employers;
  2. inspections to be made in the sectors of activity most open to abuse.

In the public debate, most delegations considered that, in order to combat the employment of illegally resident third-country nationals effectively, the Directive had to provide for effective sanctions. Most delegations were in favour of carrying out targeted high-quality inspections in the sectors of activity identified by each Member State as most open to abuse.