The French Presidency presented a draft European pact on immigration and asylum to its partners at the informal meeting in Cannes on 7 July 2008. It also made a series of proposals aimed at strengthening operational cooperation between police forces and civil protection capabilities.

The Presidency indicated the necessity for the European Union to improve the daily security of its citizens, envisaging greater convergence of their respective services, through a realistic, balanced approach to strengthening security while safeguarding civil liberties. Ms Alliot-Marie has proposed developing a European platform to signal illegal sites and setting up 'European police stations' in tourist areas and in times of major events.

With regard to civil protection, the ministers decided that European solidarity should be strengthened by the pooling of the Member States' resources on a voluntary basis to help the EU to better anticipate, prevent and manage crises.