Key facts for 2014
- 283 532 detections of illegal border-crossing
- Syrians represented around a quarter of the total (79 049)
- 170 664 detections were in the central Mediterranean, 50 834 in the eastern Mediterranean route
- 441 780 detections of illegal stay in the EU
- 252 003 third-country nationals were effectively returned to third countries
The growing instability in the EU's southern neighbourhood has
increased the number of people trying to reach the European Union. The
EU is committed to providing a response to migratory pressures in the
Mediterranean, by focusing on several goals:
Following the death of more than 300 migrants close to the island of Lampedusa in October 2013, the Council set up the Task Force Mediterranean, to identify lines of action and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. This task force is led by the European Commission.
In June 2014, the European Council also defined migration as a strategic priority for the new EU institutional cycle, under the section on developing a trusted area of fundamental freedoms.
- protecting those in need and preventing further loss of life at sea
- targeting the criminal networks of people smugglers and traffickers
- addressing the root causes of illegal migration
- providing avenues for legal migration
Key developments in the Council
Throughout 2013 and 2014 the European Council and the Council worked to build an EU response to migratory pressures.Following the death of more than 300 migrants close to the island of Lampedusa in October 2013, the Council set up the Task Force Mediterranean, to identify lines of action and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. This task force is led by the European Commission.
In June 2014, the European Council also defined migration as a strategic priority for the new EU institutional cycle, under the section on developing a trusted area of fundamental freedoms.
The role of the European Council and the Council
The European Council plays an important role in this field, setting the strategic priorities.The Council establishes certain lines of action and provides the mandates for negotiations with third countries. It also monitors the definition and implementation of specific programmes.
At their October 2014 Council meeting, home affairs ministers adopted conclusions on taking action to better manage migratory flows.
These conclusions built on the results of the Task Force Mediterranean
and aimed to define a sustainable approach to migration.
However, the actions defined were not sufficient to respond to
the growing migratory flows. Following the tragic events in the
Mediterranean in April 2015, EU heads of state and government agreed to mobilise all efforts
to prevent more people from dying at sea and to address the root causes
of migration. They decided to focus the response on four main areas:
- strengthening the presence at sea
- fighting traffickers
- preventing illegal migratory flows
- reinforcing internal solidarity and responsibility
In May 2015, the European Commission presented its communication on a European agenda for migration,
together with several proposals regarding the immediate response to
migratory pressures in the Mediterranean. EU home affairs ministers had
an initial discussion on the agenda and related proposals at their June
Council meeting.
On 25 June 2015, EU leaders agreed on a series of measures, based on the Commission agenda and on the discussions at the Council. These measures covered the areas of relocation and resettlement, return and readmission, and cooperation with third countries.
On 9 and 10 July 2015, at the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, the member states agreed to the resettlement of 20 000 refugees in the EU. Ministers also discussed relocation measures and the functioning of first reception facilities (hotspots).
On 25 June 2015, EU leaders agreed on a series of measures, based on the Commission agenda and on the discussions at the Council. These measures covered the areas of relocation and resettlement, return and readmission, and cooperation with third countries.
On 9 and 10 July 2015, at the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, the member states agreed to the resettlement of 20 000 refugees in the EU. Ministers also discussed relocation measures and the functioning of first reception facilities (hotspots).
Main Council areas of action
Saving lives at sea and targeting criminal networks
On 19 May 2015, the Council accepted a draft amending budget for 2015 to respond to migratory pressures.
This budget aims to reinforce funding for operations Triton and
Poseidon, as well as to provide further support for the member states
receiving an increased number of migrants. The European Parliament is
expected to vote on this draft amending budget at its plenary session
starting on 6 July 2015.
In October 2014, the Council welcomed the launch by the Commission and Frontex of the EU funded operation Triton. This operation, which was launched on 1 November 2014, aims to reinforce border surveillance in the waters close to Italian shores. Operation Triton is not the first Mediterranean operation for Frontex. The European agency has been patrolling the eastern Mediterranean since 2006, through operation Poseidon.
At their meeting on 23 April 2015, EU leaders called for a rapid reinforcement of operations Triton and Poseidon, by at least tripling their financial resources for 2015 and 2016. This reinforcement should allow the operations to increase their search and rescue possibilities, while keeping within the border management mandate of Frontex.
At their meeting on 23 April 2015, EU leaders called for a rapid reinforcement of operations Triton and Poseidon, by at least tripling their financial resources for 2015 and 2016. This reinforcement should allow the operations to increase their search and rescue possibilities, while keeping within the border management mandate of Frontex.
In addition to saving migrant lives at sea, the EU also seeks to
target the criminal networks which exploit vulnerable migrants. On 18
May 2015, following instructions by the European Council, the Council
agreed to establish an EU military operation, EUNAVFOR Med, to
break the business model of smugglers and traffickers of people in the
Mediterranean. This decision allowed formal planning for the military
operation to start.
EU NAVFOR Med aims to disrupt human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean
On 22 June 2015 the Council launched EU NAVFOR Med, which will be
conducted in sequential phases. The first phase focuses on surveillance
and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks. The Council
will then assess when to move to the next stages. These stages are
planned to include searching for suspicious vessels, disposing of
vessels and related assets and apprehending traffickers and smugglers.
Preventing illegal migration flows
Responding to the root causes of illegal migration flows is one of the core elements of a successful migratory strategy and requires a broad approach. EU action on this area seeks to:- address the causes of illegal migration, including through political dialogue, crisis response and development programmes
- promote readmission of unauthorised economic migrants
The implementation of the GAMM is monitored every two years
through a Commission report, which is then discussed at the Council.
Council conclusions on the implementation of the GAMM were last adopted
in April 2014.
In addition to these dialogues, in April 2015 the European Council called for an international summit to discuss migration issues with African and other key countries
in the coming months. This summit, which will take place in Valletta,
will focus on assistance to partner countries, strengthened cooperation
on return and better targeting of development cooperation and
investments in Africa.
In June 2015, the European Council also identified the need for a high-level conference to address the challenges of the Western Balkans route.
In June 2015, the European Council also identified the need for a high-level conference to address the challenges of the Western Balkans route.
The Council and its preparatory bodies are in charge of defining
the EU position to be taken at international conferences or regional
dialogues on the subject of migration. These regional dialogues include:
At their meeting in June 2015, EU leaders asked the Commission to accelerate negotiations on readmission agreements and to ensure that existing agreements are implemented. They also called for the start of negotiations with other third countries.
In addition to the existing channels a series of measures to reinforce EU action are underway, including:
- the Rabat process, which brings EU countries and institutions together with north, west and central African countries
- the Khartoum process, which brings EU countries and institutions together with countries of origin and transit and the African Union Commission
At their meeting in June 2015, EU leaders asked the Commission to accelerate negotiations on readmission agreements and to ensure that existing agreements are implemented. They also called for the start of negotiations with other third countries.
In addition to the existing channels a series of measures to reinforce EU action are underway, including:
- increasing support to countries in north Africa and the Sahel region
- deploying European migration liaison officers in key countries
- making EU return policies more effective
- providing support on return from frontline member states through Frontex
Reinforcing internal solidarity and responsibility
The Task Force Mediterranean already highlighted in 2013 the need to provide assistance to member states dealing with high migratory pressures. The continued increase in the number of migrants arriving on the Mediterranean shores underlines the need for a common EU response to this issue.In April 2015, the European Council called for increased emergency aid for frontline member states, including considering options for emergency relocation on a voluntary basis.
Among the first measures under the European agenda on migration, the Commission has presented a proposal for a provisional relocation procedure to support Italy and Greece. Ministers held a first discussion on the proposal at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 16 June 2015. On 25 June 2015, the European Council agreed to the relocation of 40.000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece. All member states will participate in this relocation effort, which will take place over two years. The Council will agree on the distribution of these persons by consensus before the end of July.
Relocation and resettlement
Relocation: transfer of a person who has made an application for international protection from the member state in charge of examining his application to another member state.Resettlement: non-EU displaced persons in clear need of international protection are transferred from a non-EU country and established in an EU member state.
In addition, in order to help the most affected member states
fulfil their responsibilities, the Commission has provided a working
document on implementing the regulation regarding the obligation to take
fingerprints of migrants entering the EU.
In June 2015, the European Council also agreed to the setting up of facilities ("hotspots") in these member states to ensure the registration of migrants. EU leaders asked the Commission to draw a roadmap for the creation of these facilities by July 2015.
In June 2015, the European Council also agreed to the setting up of facilities ("hotspots") in these member states to ensure the registration of migrants. EU leaders asked the Commission to draw a roadmap for the creation of these facilities by July 2015.
Providing legal avenues
Many of those arriving in the European Union are fleeing conflict and persecution and are in clear need of international protection. In the strategic guidelines for justice and home affairs, adopted in June 2014, the European Council called for the transposition and implementation of the Common European Asylum System and for a strengthened role for the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). This would allow asylum seekers to have the same procedural guarantees in all EU member states.In April 2015, the European Council highlighted the need to set up a first voluntary pilot project on resettlement across the EU, in order to increase the number of places offered to persons in need of protection. As part of its European agenda on migration, the Commission presented a recommendation for a European resettlement scheme in May 2015. On 25 June 2015, the European Council agreed that all member states will participate in the resettling of 20 000 people in need of international protection. At their informal meeting on 9 July 2015, home affairs ministers agreed on this resettlement.
In addition, the EU is working on legislation which will enable it to remainan attractive destination for the talent of students, researchers and workers.
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