Meeting: Justice and Home Affairs Council, 8-9 October 2015

A meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council took place on 8-9 October 2015 in Luxembourg. The following topics were discussed:

+ Migration
The Council discussed the future management of the EU's external borders, such as the developing collective responsibility of member states and Frontex, the use of new technologies and the issue of how to improve use of the existing monitoring and evaluation mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis. The discussion provided input for the preparations of the European Council, 15-16 October 2015.

An overwhelming majority of member states were in favour of strengthening the collective responsibility for external border controls and stressed the need to reinforce the role and capacity of Frontex.

Ministers also discussed the future of return policy and adopted a set of conclusions.

The Council was briefed on the latest developments regarding the relocation of 160,000 persons in need of international protection, following the decisions adopted on 14 and 22 September 2015. Ministers welcomed the first relocations, which began on 9 October 2015.

In response to the migration crisis the Council also approved €576.3 million in commitments and €71.3 million in payments as additional financial assistance from the 2015 EU budget. This puts into effect the commitments made by the European Council on 23 September 2015.

+ Counterterrorism
The Council adopted conclusions on strengthening measures to fight trafficking in firearms.

Ministers were also briefed on the implementation of measures regarding counterterrorism following the statement by EU leaders on 12 February 2015, and agreed to make progress on a number of priorities before the next meeting in December.

The Presidency informed the Council on progress in work on a directive on the use of passenger name record data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.

+ Support for Greece
The Council adopted a regulation which will help Greece to maximise the use of EU funds and improve liquidity in order to stimulate growth and create jobs. The main objective of the regulation is to address the lack of public funds available for much-needed investment in Greece, and to ensure that European structural and investment funds are able to deliver concrete benefits as quickly as possible.

• Primary Source

Council of the European Union: Meeting: Eastern Mediterranean - Western Balkans route conference, 08 October 2015 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/jha/2015/10/08/

EEAS: Press Release, 08.10.15: Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at the High-Level Conference 'Eastern Mediterranean - Western Balkans Route' http://www.eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/151008_05_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Council approves more money to tackle refugee crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-approves-more-money-to-tackle-refugee-crisis/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/5803, 08.10.15: Remarks of Commissioner Avramopoulos at the Press Conference after the Migration Session of the Justice and Home Affairs Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-5803_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on strengthening the use of means of fighting trafficking of firearms http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-strengthening-the-use-of-means-of-fighting-trafficking-of-firearms/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 08.10.15: Declaration of the High-level Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean - Western Balkans Route http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/10/08-western-balkans-route-conference-declaration/

ESO: Background information: EU Data protection reform on track: Commission proposal on new data protection rules in law enforcement area backed by Justice Ministers http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-data-protection-reform-on-track-commission-proposal-on-new-data-protection-rules-in-law-enforcement-area-backed-by-justice-ministers/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on the future of the return policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-the-future-of-the-return-policy/

ESO: Background information: Avramopoulos oversees first relocation of asylum seekers http://www.europeansources.info/record/avramopoulos-oversees-first-relocation-of-asylum-seekers/

EUObserver, 08.10.15: EU ministers want more migrant deportations https://euobserver.com/migration/130613

---