Merkel – Tusk – Photo EU Council
(BRUSSELS) – The EU summit agreed Friday to strengthen European solidarity in face of the migration crisis, calling for further measures to stem illegal migration and ‘disembarkation platforms’ for people saved at sea.
The two-day European Council focused on migration, security and defence, as well as economic and financial affairs. EU leaders reconvene Friday to address Brexit (in an EU 27 format) and the eurozone (Euro Summit format).
Leaders noted that the the number of detected illegal border crossings into the EU was down by 96% from its peak in October 2015.
Regarding the Central Mediterranean route, EU leaders agreed to:
- step up efforts to stop migrant smugglers operating out of Libya or elsewhere
- continue to support Italy and other frontline member states
- increase its support for the Sahel region, the Libyan coastguard, coastal and Southern communities, humane reception conditions and voluntary humanitarian returns
- enhance cooperation with other countries of origin and transit as well as voluntary resettlement
About the Eastern Mediterranean Route, EU leaders stressed the need to fully implement the EU-Turkey Statement, prevent new crossings from Turkey and bring the flows to a halt.
They also called for more efforts to ensure swift returns and to prevent the development of new migratory routes. They also reaffirmed the need to continue working closely with Western Balkans partners.
EU leaders agreed to support efforts to prevent illegal migration in the Western Mediterranean where irregular arrivals are on the rise. This include efforts by member states as well as countries of origin and transit, in particular Morocco.
EU leaders also supported the development of a concept of regional disembarkation platforms for people saved at sea by search and rescue operations. Such platforms, suggested by UNHCR and IOM, should allow to rapidly and safely distinguish between economic migrants and those in need of international protection.
EU heads of state or government agreed that on EU territory, those who are saved, should be taken charge of, on the basis of a shared effort, through the transfer in controlled centres. These centres are to be set up in member states, only on a voluntary basis, and should provide rapid and secure processing allowing to distinguish between irregular migrants, who will be returned, and those in need of international protection, for whom the principle of solidarity would apply.
The European Council agrees on launching the second tranche of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey and at the same time on transferring 500 million euro from the 11th EDF reserve to the EU Trust Fund for Africa.
EU leaders also highlighted the importance of a partnership with Africa, which would not only require increased development funding but also steps towards creating a new framework enabling an increase of private investment from both Africans and Europeans.
In addition, leaders called for a new dedicated external migration management facility to be included under the next EU long term budget (MFF).
The European Council recalled the need to ensure the effective control of the EU’s external borders and to step up the effective return of irregular migrants. It welcomed the intention of the Commission to make legislative proposals for a more effective and coherent European return policy.
Concerning the internal situation, member states should take all the necessary measures to prevent secondary movements of asylum seekers and to cooperate with each other to that end.
Finally, EU leaders discussed the reform of EU asylum rules. Much progress has been achieved: five out of the seven legislative proposals are close to finalisation. EU leaders invited the Austrian presidency to continue work on the Dublin regulation and the asylum procedures proposal.European Council conclusions, 28 June 2018
