| 17-18.01.2005
Brussels, Belgiun The European Council (further Council) met in Brussels on 17-18 June 2004 to discuss the development of, and make suggestions on, a range of issues. Among those issues discussed, justice, freedom, and security took strong priority especially in regards to protection and prevention against terrorism. On the asylum and immigration issues, the Council welcomed the European Commission (EC) report on the progress achieved under the five-year Tampere programme. It noted a number of other important steps that have been made in this area, in particular the adoption of Asylums Qualifications Directive and the political agreement on the Directive on the admission of third country nationals for studies and related purposes. Councils and commissions were invited to prepare proposals for a new programme for the coming years to be considered by the Council by the end of 2004. In particular, the Council emphasised priorities in the asylum and immigration areas. These included the revision of the implementation of the Plan for Management of the Maritime Borders; the consideration of further proposals for a financial instrument for return management; the examination of proposals contained in the EC Communication on entry to the Union of persons in need of international protection, as well as in the Communication on relations between legal and illegal immigration. | 
