Political guidelines and action plans
On 5 November 2004, the Council of Europe approved the Hague Programme, a long-term programme for cooperation in the area of legal and interior matters.
In December 2005, the Council of Europe approved a migration management strategy with a focus on Africa and the area around the Mediterranean.
The strategy includes establishing how the EU is to undertake its fight against illegal immigrants, through close cooperation with origin and transit countries, through border control, repatriation and community aid.