The extraordinary meeting of the European Council on Thursday was attended by EU leaders who  agreed that the situation in the Mediterranean is a tragedy. For this reason, they agreed to mobilize all efforts at their disposal to prevent the further loss of life at sea and tackle the root casue of the human emergency being faced. The immediate priority was to put an end to more people dying at sea.

To prevent illegal migrant flows and reinforce internal solidarity and responsibility the EU decided to strengthen its presence at sea and fight traffickers. Given that instability in Libya creates an ideal environment for the criminal activities of traffickers, the EU will actively support all UN-led efforts towards re-establishing government authority in Libya. 

Key points committed to:

Strengthened sea presence

The reinforcement of EU Operations Triton and Poseidon by at least tripling the financial resources for this purpose in 2015 and 2016 and reinforcing the number of assets, thus allowing to increase the search and rescue possibilities within the mandate of FRONTEX.

Fighting human traffickers in accordance with international law

– Disrupt trafficking networks, bring the perpetrators to justice and seize their assets, through swift action by Member State authorities in co-operation with EUROPOL, FRONTEX, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and EUROJUST, as well as through increased intelligence and police-cooperation with third countries;

– Undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by traffickers;

– At the same time, the High Representative is invited to immediately begin preparations for a possible CSDP operation to this effect;

– Use EUROPOL to detect and request removal of internet content used by traffickers to attract migrants and refugees, in accordance with national constitutions.

Action to prevent illegal migration flows

– Increase support to Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Mali and Niger among others, to monitor and control the land borders and routes, building on current CSDP operations in the region as well as on regional cooperation frameworks (Rabat and Khartoum process); step up dialogue with the African Union at all levels on these issues.

– Reinforce EU political cooperation with African partners at all levels in order to tackle the cause of illegal migration and combat the smuggling and trafficking of human beings. The EU will raise these issues with the African Union and the key countries concerned, with whom it will propose the holding of a summit in Malta in the coming months;

– Step up cooperation with Turkey in view of the situation in Syria and Iraq;

– Deploy European migration liaison officers in key countries to gather information on migratory flows, co-ordinate with national liaison officers, and co-operate directly with the local authorities;

– Work with regional partners in building capacity for maritime border management and search and rescue operations;

– Launch Regional Development and Protection programmes for North Africa and the Horn of Africa;

– Invite the Commission and the High Representative to mobilise all tools, including through development cooperation and the implementation of EU and national readmission agreements with third countries, to promote readmission of unauthorised economic migrants to countries of origin and transit, working closely with the International Organisation for Migration;

– While respecting the right to seek asylum, set up a new return programme for the rapid return of illegal migrants from frontline Member States, coordinated by FRONTEX.

Reinforce internal solidarity and resonsibility

– Rapid and full transposition and effective implementation of the Common European Asylum System by all participating Member States, thereby ensuring common European standards under existing legislation;

– Increase emergency aid to frontline Member States and consider options for organising emergency relocation between all Member States on a voluntary basis;

– Deploy EASO teams in frontline Member States for joint processing of asylum applications, including registration and finger-printing;

– Set up a first voluntary pilot project on resettlement across the EU, offering places to persons qualifying for protection.

The EU institutions and the Member States will work immediately on the full implementation of these orientations. The Presidency and the Commission will present next week a roadmap setting out work up to June.

The European Council looks forward to the Commission Communication on a European Agenda for Migration, in order to develop a more systemic and geographically comprehensive approach to migration. The European Council will remain seized of the situation and will closely monitor the implementation of these orientations. The Council and the Commission will report to the European Council in June.

To read statements made by individual members, CLICK HERE.