http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5039_en.htm
European Commission - Press release
European Commission makes progress on Agenda on Migration
Brussels, 27 May 2015
Two weeks after presenting the European Agenda on Migration, the
Commission is today adopting the first proposals of its comprehensive
approach to improving the management of migration.
Following the terrible loss of life in the Mediterranean last month,
European leaders made a firm commitment to solidarity amongst Member
States to address the common migratory challenges. With today's
proposals, the Commission is turning words into action and setting out
immediate and long-term responses to the migration challenges that
Europe faces.
First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: "Today the Commission is
matching words with action. Solidarity goes hand in hand with
responsibility. This is why our proposals include the strong requirement
that asylum rules are properly applied, and that Member States do
everything they should to prevent abuse. Everyone who needs sanctuary
should find it in Europe. But those who have no justified claim should
be quickly identified and returned to their home country. This is
essential for migration policies to be well accepted in society."
High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "Two weeks
after adopting our Agenda, we present today concrete proposals for its
implementation, with one main aim: quickly save lives and provide
protection in the EU for people in need, be they at sea, in the EU or in
third countries. For this reason, we are intensifying our cooperation
with countries of origin and transit and with countries hosting
refugees, not only to support asylum and migration capacities, but also
to tackle the root causes that force people to escape and migrate:
poverty, wars, persecutions, violations of human rights and natural
disasters. I have discussed these objectives yesterday with Ministers of
Development, in the context of our reflection on new sustainable
Development Goals, and I have exchanged views once more with the UN
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the comprehensive steps we want to take."
Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris
Avramopoulos said: "Today, the Commission has shown that it can act
quickly and resolutely to better manage migration. The relocation and
resettlement schemes, together with the strengthening of Triton and
Poseidon and the Action Plan to fight smugglers, respond to the most
urgent challenges we are confronted with. At the same time, we are
launching the public consultation on the revision of the Blue Card
Directive, a consultation that we hope will bring us valuable input for
turning this instrument into a true business card for the Union in the
global competition for talents and skills."
Today, the European Commission is presenting several different and
concrete measures to respond to the current migration challenges:
Relocation: Emergency response mechanism to assist Italy and
Greece: The European Commission is proposing to use the emergency
response mechanism under Article 78(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning
of the European Union. This provision, which is being activated for the
first time, will be used to set up an emergency relocation scheme to
assist Italy and Greece. This scheme will apply to Syrian and Eritrean
nationals in need of international protection that arrived in either
Italy or Greece after 15 April 2015 or that arrive after the mechanism
is launched. A total of 40 000 persons should be relocated from Italy
and Greece to other EU Member States based on a distribution key (see
Annex 1 and 2) over the next 2 years – corresponding to approximately
40% of the total number of asylum seekers in clear need of international
protection who entered these countries in 2014. The Commission is ready
to do the same if other Member States – such as Malta – also face a
sudden influx of migrants. Member States will receive €6,000 for each
person relocated on their territory.
Resettlement: The Commission has adopted a Recommendation asking
Member States to resettle 20 000 people from outside the EU, in clear
need of international protection as identified by the UNHCR, over 2
years, based on a distribution key (see Annex 3). Member States who
participate in the scheme will be entitled to financial support, with
the EU making €50 million available in 2015-16.
An EU Action plan against migrant smuggling: The Plan for 2015-2020
sets out concrete actions to prevent and counter migrant smuggling.
Actions include setting up a list of suspicious vessels; dedicated
platforms to enhancing cooperation and exchange of information with
financial institutions; and cooperating with internet service providers
and social media to ensure internet content used by smugglers to
advertise their activities is swiftly detected and removed.
Guidelines on Fingerprinting: For the EU's common asylum system to
work effectively, migrants need to be systematically fingerprinted upon
arrival. The Commission services have published guidelines for Member
States setting out a best practices approach for fingerprinting newly
arrived applicants for international protection. "Hotspot" teams from
EASO, Frontex and Europol will work on the ground to swiftly identify,
register and fingerprint incoming migrants and assess those who are in
need of protection.
A public consultation on the future of the Blue Card Directive: The
Commission wants to improve the existing EU Blue Card scheme, which aims
to make it easier for highly skilled people to come and work in the EU
but is currently scarcely used. The public consultation invites
stakeholders (migrants, employers, governmental organisations, trade
unions, NGOs, employment agencies, etc.) to share their views on the EU
Blue Card and how it can be improved.
The Commission also takes note of a new Operational Plan for Operation
Triton. The new Operational Plan for the reinforced Joint Operation
Triton sets out the new number of assets: 10 maritime, 33 land and 8 air
assets, and 121 human resources. The Operational Plan also extends the
geographical area of Triton southwards to the borders of the Maltese
search and rescue zone to cover the area of the former Italian Mare
Nostrum operation.
Background
On 23 April 2014, in Malta, Jean-Claude Juncker presented a five point
plan on immigration, calling for more solidarity in the EU's migration
policy as part of his campaign to become European Commission President.
Upon taking office, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
entrusted a Commissioner with special responsibility for Migration to
work, in coordination with First Vice-President Timmermans, on a new
policy on migration as one of the 10 priorities of the Political
Guidelines, the political programme based on which the European
Parliament elected the Commission.
Based on a proposal by the European Commission, in a European Council
statement of 23 April 2015, Member States committed to taking rapid
action to save lives and to step up EU action in the field of migration.
A European Parliament Resolution followed a few days later.
On 13 May 2015, the European Commission presented its European Agenda on
Migration, which sets out a comprehensive approach that will improve the
management of migration in all its aspects.
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