The European Agenda on Migration adopted
by the Commission in May 2015 set out the need for a comprehensive
approach to migration management. Since then, a number of measures have
been introduced – including the adoption of two emergency schemes to
relocate 160,000 people in clear need of international protection from
the Member States most affected to other EU Member States, and the
endorsement of the Commission Action Plan on Return.
On 23 September, the European Commission presented a set of priority actions
to implement the European Agenda on Migration to be taken within the
next six months. This included both short term actions to stabilise the
current situation as well as longer term measures to establish a robust
system that will bear the test of time.
The list of priority
actions set out the key measures immediately required in terms of: (i)
operational measures; (ii) budgetary support and (iii) implementation of
EU law.
The list was endorsed by the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government of 23 September 2015 and again on 15 October 2015.
These measures now need to be swiftly and effectively implemented at all levels.
For a state of play of the commitments made at the Western Balkans Route Leaders' Meeting, see here.
Financial pledges
At
the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government of 23 September,
Member States recognised the need to deploy additional national funding.
They repeated their commitment at the European Council on 15 October.
The Commission has already proposed amendments to its 2015 and 2016
budgets, boosting the resources devoted to the refugee crisis by €1.7
billion. This means that the Commission will spend €9.2 billion in total
on the refugee crisis in 2015 and 2016. Member States committed to
deploying national funding to match. However, a large number of Member
States still need to match EU funding for the UNHCR, World Food
Programme and other relevant organisations (€500 million), the EU
Regional Trust Fund for Syria (€500 million) and the Emergency Trust
Fund for Africa (€1.8 billion).
Member States' financial pledges since 23 September 2015, € million
Relocation Schemes
The measures proposed by the Commission and adopted by the Council on 14 September and 22 September
to relocate 160,000 people in clear need of international protection
will allow for a significant, if partial, reduction of the pressure on
the most affected Member States. It is of crucial importance that these
measures will now be fully implemented. To allow these schemes to
function effectively, Member States must swiftly respond to the call for
national experts to support the work in the hotspots, notify the
Commission of their reception capacities, and identify the national
contact points who will coordinate relocations with Greece and Italy as
well as national resettlement efforts.
Member States' Support to Emergency Relocation Mechanism
Hotspot Approach
Central
to the EU's strategy and credibility is to demonstrate that the
migration system can be restored to proper functioning, in particular by
using Migration Management Support Teams deployed in 'hotspots' to help
Member States under the most intense pressure to fulfil their
obligations and responsibilities. For the Support Teams to work they
need a strong core of EU Agencies, the closest of cooperation with the
authorities in Italy and Greece, and the support of other Member States.
State of Play of Hotspot capacity
Returns...
Ensuring
effective returns is a core part of the work of the Migration
Management Support Teams in 'hotspot' locations. This also requires
efficient systems to be in place inside the EU for issuing and enforcing
return decisions. Concrete steps have been taken over the past month to
develop a system of integrated return management and to make use of the
EU's information exchange systems to include return decisions and entry
bans. Member States' return agencies must also be given the necessary
resources to perform their role. Member States should swiftly implement
the EU action plan on return proposed by the Commission and endorsed by Member States at the October 2015 the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
Returns since September
Support for Countries Triggering the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism
is designed to offer practical support to Member States overwhelmed by a
crisis situation. Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia are currently calling on
its support. The Mechanism can mobilise various types of in-kind
assistance, including teams and equipment, shelter, medical supplies and
other non-food items, as well as expertise. A call is issued by the
country activating the Mechanism, and participating States provide the
assistance in response to the identified needs. The Commission has
increased the amount of co-financing it will provide for the transport
of relief items and experts during the current refugee crisis. So far,
too few Member States have responded to these calls, and a large number
of resources must still be provided for Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia to
cope with the current situation.
Member States' Support to Civil Protection Mechanism for Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia
Background
The
European Commission has been consistently and continuously working for a
coordinated European response on the refugees and migration front.
Upon
taking office, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
entrusted a Commissioner with special responsibility for Migration –
Dimitris Avramopoulos – to work together with the other Commissioners,
coordinated by First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, on a new policy on
migration as one of the 10 priorities of the Political Guidelines.
On 13 May 2015, the European Commission presented its European Agenda on Migration, setting out a comprehensive approach for improving the management of migration in all its aspects.
Two implementation packages under the Agenda, on 27 May 2015 and on 9 September 2015 have already been adopted and the measures therein are starting to be deployed.
