Communication on ‘the way forward on the external and internal dimension of migration policy’

Further information:

The Communication includes a roadmap to reach a comprehensive agreement by June 2018 on how to pursue a sustainable migration policy.

The document suggests that EU leaders unblock negotiations regarding the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). It also calls for the full operationalisation of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. On the external level, the EU needs to ensures the full implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement and stronger engagement with third country partners and UN agencies.

The Commission also argues that work needs to be done on disuading irregular migration, and that Member States need to resettle a further 50,000 vulnerable refugees by May 2019. At the same time, Member States need also to deliver on swift and efficient return and readmission.

Finally, the Commission asks leaders to reflect on how to guarantee funding for the external dimension of migration and ensure rapid mobilisation of resources to address the root causes of migration and ensure the protection of refugees and migrants.

Background information:

The European Commission proposed in May 2015 an European Agenda on Migration to tackle the immediate challenges of the 2015 crisis and equip the EU with the tools to better manage migration in the medium and long term. In June 2016, the Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy launched the Migration Partnership to reinforce cooperation with countries of origin and transit, mainly in Africa, to better jointly manage migration.

The debate is one of the items in the agenda of the European Council summit held on 14-15 December 2017.

The European Commission adopted on 7 December 2017 its contribution to a thematic debate on a way forward on the external and the internal dimension of migration policy.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Opening Remarks of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans: Press Conference on the way forward for EU migration policy http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-5166_en.htm

---