The EU’s migrant strategy: a welcome new impetus

Abstract
The publication of the European Commission's agenda on migration in May 2015 comes at a difficult time: first and foremost in humanitarian terms on account of the recurrent and intolerable tragedies taking place in the Mediterranean, which demand a rapid response; and secondly, in political terms, if we consider both the economic situation (the crisis) and the political situation (the rise of far-right and anti-European parties) which makes all debate and action in this field rather tricky.

In this context, the Juncker Commission faced a sensitive challenge because it needed to act quickly but had only limited room for manoeuvre. While certain guidelines had already been revealed at the European Council meeting on 23 April 2015, the publication of the agenda has provided the Commission with an opportunity to recall and to specify the actions it wishes to undertake in the immediate, medium, and long terms. There are three aspects to the agenda worth highlighting: its innovation, its confirmation, and its long-term vision.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Managing migration better in all aspects: A European Agenda on Migration http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-managing-migration-better-in-all-aspects-a-european-agenda-on-migration/

Notre Europe: Tribune, 19.05.15: The EU's migrant strategy: a welcome new impetus http://www.institutdelors.eu/media/eumigrationstrategy-vitorinopascouau-jdi-epc-may15.pdf?pdf=ok

ECFR: Commentary, 13.05.15: Migration and the Mediterranean http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_migration_and_the_mediterranean3023

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

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