This proposal forms part of the EU efforts to develop a comprehensive immigration policy. The Hague Programme of November 2004, recognised that "legal migration will play an important role in enhancing the knowledge-based economy in Europe, in advancing economic development, and thus contributing to the implementation of the Lisbon strategy", and asked the Commission to present a policy plan on legal migration "including admission procedures, capable of responding promptly to fluctuating demands for migrant labour in the labour market".
The December 2006 European Council agreed on a series of steps to be taken during 2007, including to "develop, as far as legal migration is concerned, well-managed migration policies, fully respecting national competences, to assist Member States to meet existing and future labour needs () the forthcoming Commission proposals within the framework of the Policy Plan on Legal Migration of December 2005 should be rapidly examined". [extract]