Extraordinary European Council, Brussels, 23 April 2015

Following the tragic events involving migrants in the Mediterranean, European Council President Donald Tusk called an extraordinary European Council on 23 April 2015.

The objective of the meeting was to discuss, at the highest level, what immediate actions the member states and the EU institutions can take together to address the situation.

It followed on from a Joint Foreign and Home Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on the 20 April 2015 at which the European Commission presented a ten point action plan on migration.

The special meeting began with a standing silence for the victims of the Mediterranean shipwreck.

EU leaders discussed the dramatic situation in the Mediterranean and agreed four priority areas for action:

+ Fighting traffickers
EU leaders asked Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative to propose actions allowing to capture and destroy the smuggler's vessels before they can be used. The High Representative was invited to start the preparations for a possible CSDP operation, in accordance with international law.

Other agreed measures included a step up in the co-operation against smuggling networks with the help of Europol, and the deployment of immigration officers to third countries.

+ Strengthening presence at sea
The European Council agreed to triple the resources available to Triton, the EU border mission in the Central Mediterranean, and to enhance its operational capability. Concrete support to the mission was also announced with the supply of additional vessels, aircrafts and experts by member states.

+ Preventing illegal migration flows
The EU decided to limit the inflow and tackle the cause of illegal migration. The cooperation with the countries of origin and transit should be reinforced, especially the countries around Libya. EU leasers also agreed to implement a new return programme for the rapid return of irregular migrants.

+ Reinforcing internal solidarity and responsibility
The EU agreed to offer more protection to refugees from conflict regions and set up a first voluntary pilot project on resettlement across the EU, offering places to persons qualifying for protection.

EU leaders decided to return to the issue at the European Council in June 2015.

See the reactions to the decisions of the European Council summit in the related url hyperlinks, including from Frontex, the International Organisation for Migration, and the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

ESO: Background information: Joint Foreign and Home Affairs Council: Ten point action plan on migration http://www.europeansources.info/record/joint-foreign-and-home-affairs-council-ten-point-action-plan-on-migration/

EurActiv, 20.04.15: Tusk calls extraordinary summit over migrant boat disasters http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/tusk-calls-extraordinary-summit-over-migrant-boat-disasters-313931

European Council: Press Release, 22.04.15: Invitation letter by President Donald Tusk to the Special European Council meeting http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/04/22-tusk-invitation-letter-special-european-council/

Politico, 22.04.15: Reading between the summit lines http://www.politico.eu/article/reading-between-the-summit-lines/

Deutsche Welle, 22.04.15: Merkel: Mediterranean deaths 'incompatible with EU values' http://dw.de/p/1FCgr

BBC News, 24.04.15: Mediterranean migrants crisis: EU triples funding http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32435230

EUObserver [Opinion], 23.04.15: Facing the EU's migrant crisis https://euobserver.com/opinion/128416

EurActiv, 24.04.15: Juncker suffers double blow on immigration at summit http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/juncker-suffers-double-blow-immigration-summit-314053

EurActiv, 24.04.15: NGOs: Migration summit fell short of expectations http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/ngos-say-migration-summit-fell-short-expectations-314064

European Council: IP/15/205, 24.04.15: Remarks by President Donald Tusk ahead of the Special European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/04/23-special-euco-tusk-doorstep/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/15/4846, 23.04.15: Extraordinary European Council on Migration: Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-4846_en.htm

European Council: STATEMENT/15/204, 23.04.15: Special meeting of the European Council, 23 April 2015 - statement http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/04/23-special-euco-statement/

European Council: STATEMENT/15/207, 23.04.15: Remarks by President Donald Tusk following the special European Council meeting on migratory pressures in the Mediterranean http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/04/23-final-remarks-tusk-european-council-migration/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 23.04.15: Schulz: 'Lack of European migration policy is turning Mediterranean into a graveyard' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150423STO45411/

The Guardian, 23.04.15: Migrant deaths: EU leaders to triple funding of rescue operations http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/23/migrant-deaths-eu-funding-rescue-ships-mediterranean

Euronews, 23.04.15: EU to boost migrant patrols http://www.euronews.com/2015/04/23/eu-to-boost-migrant-patrols/

The Independent, 23.04.15: Migrant crisis: EU leaders declare war on people traffickers as leaders vow to 'identify, capture and destroy' their vessels http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/migrant-crisis-eu-leaders-struggle-to-reach-agreement-on-how-to-prevent-deaths-of-refugees-crossing-the-mediterranean-10199927.html

Deutsche Welle, 23.04.15: EU leaders agree to triple Triton funding in response to Mediterranean migrant crisis http://dw.de/p/1FE4r

EUObserver, 23.04.15: EU summit skirts asylum rules debate https://euobserver.com/justice/128440

EUObserver, 24.04.15: EU to target migrant smugglers https://euobserver.com/justice/128447

Politico, 23.04.15: EU commits more boats, but not much else http://www.politico.eu/article/euco-more-boats-but-not-much-else/

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 24.04.15: EU raises refugee rescue budget http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER162099-EU-raises-refugee-rescue-budget

The Local.it, 24.04.15: EU leaders triple rescue mission funds http://www.thelocal.it/20150424/eu-leaders-triple-rescue-mission-funds

The Conversation, 23.04.15: Migrant crisis: can Europe’s leaders deliver real change or will it be business as usual? https://theconversation.com/migrant-crisis-can-europes-leaders-deliver-real-change-or-will-it-be-business-as-usual-40735

Frontex: Press Release, 23.04.15: Frontex welcomes pledges to boost operations Triton and Poseidon http://frontex.europa.eu/news/frontex-welcomes-pledges-to-boost-operations-triton-and-poseidon-U6vDFW

The Conversation, 24.04.15: Humanitarian emergency is being used to justify dangerous measures to stop migration https://theconversation.com/humanitarian-emergency-is-being-used-to-justify-dangerous-measures-to-stop-migration-40734

UNHCR: News Stories, 24.04.15: Mediterranean: UNHCR pledges to help EU tackle enormous and intensifying tragedy http://www.unhcr.org/553a49f39.html

IOM: News, 24.04.15: IOM Welcomes EU Council Decision on Migrants in Mediterranean http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/news-and-views/press-briefing-notes/pbn-2015b/pbn-listing/iom-welcomes-eu-council-decision.html

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 23.04.15: Don’t Rock the Boat: EU leaders do as little as possible to address the migrant crisis http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/dont-rock-boat-eu-leaders-do-as-little.html

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