Press Release: Managing migration better in all aspects: A European Agenda on Migration

On 13 May 2015, the European Commission presented a European Agenda on Migration outlining the immediate measures that will be taken in order to respond to the crisis situation in the Mediterranean as well as the steps to be taken in the coming years (2015-2020) to better manage migration in all its aspects.

The Commission proposes both immediate action and a longer term approach.

Immediate Action
+ Tripling the capacities and assets for the Frontex joint operations Triton and Poseidon
+ a temporary distribution mechanism for persons in clear need of international protection within the EU
+ an EU-wide resettlement scheme to offer 20,000 places ... to displaced persons in clear need of international protection
+ operation in the Mediterranean to dismantle traffickers' networks and fight smuggling of people

Longer-term - The Way Forward: Four pillars to manage migration better
+ Reducing the incentives for irregular migration
+ Border management – saving lives and securing external borders
+ Europe's duty to protect: a strong common asylum policy
+ A new policy on legal migration

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/15/4957, 13.05.15: Questions and answers on the European Agenda on Migration http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-4957_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Extraordinary European Council, Brussels, 23 April 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/extraordinary-european-council-brussels-23-april-2015/

ESO: Background information: Asylum decisions in the EU. EU Member States granted protection to more than 185,000 asylum seekers in 2014. Syrians remain the main beneficiaries http://www.europeansources.info/record/asylum-decisions-in-the-eu-eu-member-states-granted-protection-to-more-than-185000-asylum-seekers-in-2014-syrians-remain-the-main-beneficiaries/

ESO: Background information: EU readies for refugee quota plan amid opposition from some members http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-readies-for-refugee-quota-plan-amid-opposition-from-some-members/

EurActiv, 13.05.15: National concerns erode European migration strategy http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/national-concerns-erode-european-migration-strategy-314569

Amnesty International: EU Office: Press Release, 13.05.15: EC migration agenda represents welcome shift and must not be undermined by member states http://www.amnesty.eu/en/news/press-releases/all/ec-migration-agenda-represents-welcome-shift-and-must-not-be-undermined-by-member-states-0896/#.VVNmihCuR8E

Blog: EP: EPRS, 13.05.15: EU migration policy: calls for holistic approach and closer international cooperation http://epthinktank.eu/2015/05/13/eu-migration-policy-calls-for-holistic-approach-and-closer-international-cooperation/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/4982, 13.05.15: Commissioner Avramopoulos' remarks at the presentation of the European Agenda on Migration http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4982_en.htm

EUObserver, 13.05.15: Military action underpins EU migration plan https://euobserver.com/justice/128708

Politico, 13.05.15: Commission adopts ambitious migration plan http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-adopts-migration-plan/

The Guardian, 13.05.15: Migrant crisis: EU plan to strike Libya networks could include ground forces http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/13/migrant-crisis-eu-plan-to-strike-libya-networks-could-include-ground-forces

The Guardian, 13.05.15: Theresa May rebuked by European commission over criticism of refugee plan http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/13/theresa-may-receives-eu-rebuke-over-refugee-plan-criticism

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 13.05.15: The Commission’s new EU Migration Strategy: Waiting for the Great Leap Forward http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/the-commissions-new-eu-migration.html

The Conversation, 13.05.15: How migrant crisis could lead to the break-up of the EU https://theconversation.com/how-migrant-crisis-could-lead-to-the-break-up-of-the-eu-41727

The Conversation, 12.05.15: How chaos in Libya spawned a security nightmare in the Mediterranean https://theconversation.com/how-chaos-in-libya-spawned-a-security-nightmare-in-the-mediterranean-41478

Blog: Open Europe, 13.05.15: The new EU refugee plan: What’s in it? http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/eu-refugee-plan-whats-in-it/

BBC News, 13.05.15: Migrant crisis: EU quota plan to take 20,000 refugees http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32719014

Médecins Sans Frontières: Press Release, 13.05.15: MSF statement re: European Agenda on Migration http://www.msf.org/article/msf-statement-re-european-agenda-migration

Deutsche Welle, 13.05.15: European Commission outlines new migration policy in wake of migrant deaths http://dw.de/p/1FPDS

EUObserver, 13.05.15: EU to overhaul 'Blue Card' work permit for migrants https://euobserver.com/justice/128703

EUObserver, 15.05.15: EU preparing to start migrant operation before UN approval https://euobserver.com/justice/128719

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 15.05.15: The EU presents new migration strategy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER163096-The-EU-presents-new-migration-strategy

The Local.dk, 15.05.15: Denmark's 'sad' position in EU asylum plan http://www.thelocal.dk/20150515/denmark-eu-migrant-sharing-proposal-asylum

The Conversation, 14.05.15: Hard Evidence: which EU countries can afford to take the most refugees? https://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-which-eu-countries-can-afford-to-take-the-most-refugees-41839

EurActiv, 18.05.15: EU to back unprecedented naval force to fight migrant smugglers http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/eu-back-unprecedented-naval-force-fight-migrant-smugglers-314631

EUObserver, 18.05.15: France opposes EU migrant quotas https://euobserver.com/political/128730

Blog: Migrants at Sea http://migrantsatsea.org/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

---