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I. MIGRATION
1. The
European Council confirms its comprehensive strategy to tackle the
migration crisis. Several elements of our common European response are
in place today and are yielding results. Work on other elements is being
taken forward diligently, so that they can be implemented as soon as
possible. Priority will continue to be given to regaining control of our
external borders.
2. Following
the decisions of the Heads of State or Government of 7 March, and in
the context of the Joint Action Plan with Turkey and its expansion, the
European Council calls for:
- more work to be done on hotspots; much progress has been achieved in making all hotspots fully operational and increasing reception capacities; this effort should be continued, with the full assistance of the EU, including support for Greek asylum structures;
- the use of all means to support the capacity of Greece for the return of irregular migrants to Turkey in the context of the Greek-Turkish readmission Protocol and the EU-Turkey readmission agreement as of 1 June 2016. Member States declare their willingness to provide Greece at short notice with the necessary means, including border guards, asylum experts and interpreters. The European Council asks the Commission to coordinate all necessary support for Greece, for the full implementation of the EU-Turkey statement, and to develop an operational plan. The Commission will coordinate and organise together with Member States and agencies the necessary support structures to implement it effectively. The Commission will regularly report to the Council on its implementation;
- emergency support to be provided to help Greece cope with the humanitarian situation. The rapid adoption of the Regulation on emergency support is an important step in that respect. The draft amending budget presented by the Commission should be adopted without delay. Member States are invited to make immediate additional contributions under the Civil Protection Mechanism as well as to provide bilateral humanitarian assistance;
- accelerated relocation from Greece, which includes conducting the necessary security checks; the number of applications now being larger than the number of offers, as shown in the Commission report of 16 March, Member States should swiftly offer more places, in line with the existing commitments.
3. The
European Council takes note of the Commission Communication "Next
operational steps in EU-Turkey cooperation in the field of migration",
in particular as to how an asylum application from a migrant crossing
from Turkey into Greece can be declared inadmissible, based on the
concept of "first country of asylum" or "safe third country", in
accordance with European and international law.
4. The
European Council reiterates that the EU-Turkey Statement does not
establish any new commitments on Member States as far as relocation and
resettlement are concerned.
5. The EU
reiterates that it expects Turkey to respect the highest standards when
it comes to democracy, rule of law, respect of fundamental freedoms,
including freedom of expression.
6. The
European Council reaffirms its support to Jordan and Lebanon. It calls
for pledges to be disbursed promptly and EU Compacts to be finalised to
enhance support to refugees and host communities in both countries.
7. The
European Council calls for strengthening of cooperation with the Western
Balkans countries in tackling the migration crisis and contributing to
the objectives of the European Council.
8. Further
to its February 2016 conclusions, the European Council invites the
European Investment Bank to present to its June meeting a specific
initiative aimed at rapidly mobilising additional financing in support
of sustainable growth, vital infrastructure and social cohesion in
Southern neighbourhood and Western Balkans countries.
9. The
European Council is extremely vigilant as regards possible new routes
for irregular migrants and calls for taking any measures that may become
necessary in that respect. In this context, the fight against smugglers
everywhere and by all appropriate means remains key. The EU stands
ready to support the Government of National Accord, as the sole
legitimate government of Libya, including, at its request, to restore
stability, fight terrorism and manage migration in the central
Mediterranean.
10. The
European Council reaffirms its previous conclusions on the various
elements of the comprehensive strategy and is pleased with progress on
the European Border and Coast Guard proposal, which should be adopted as
soon as possible. Work will also be taken forward on the future
architecture of the EU's migration policy, including the Dublin
Regulation.
II. JOBS, GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS
11. To steer
the Council's discussions on the 2016 European Semester, the European
Council endorsed the policy priority areas of the Annual Growth Survey:
re-launching investment, pursuing structural reforms to modernise our
economies, and conducting responsible fiscal policies. Member States
will reflect these priorities in their forthcoming National Reform
Programmes and Stability or Convergence Programmes. Such policies will
contribute to placing the current recovery on a more sustainable basis
and to fostering growth and employment. The European Council notes the
Commission consultation on social issues and stresses the importance of
well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems.
12. At its
June meeting, the European Council will discuss the progress achieved in
the work towards completing the Economic and Monetary Union. It will
also adopt an Agenda for the implementation of all aspects of the Single
Market, including delivery of the Commission's Single Market, Digital
Single Market and Capital Markets Union strategies, with a view to
exploiting in full its untapped growth and productivity potential.
13. In the
light of the difficult situation of the European steel sector, in a
context of overcapacity at global level, the European Council calls on
the Council to rapidly examine the Commission's communication with a
view to taking strong action in response to this challenge.
14. The
European Council notes the situation of farmers, notably in the dairy
and pig sectors, who are seriously affected by the drop in prices. It
invites the Commission to quickly act upon the outcome of the Council
(Agriculture) meeting of 14 March. It will closely follow the evolution
of this sector of such importance for Europe.
15. The
European Council notes that the Commission intends to publish shortly a
communication on an action plan on VAT. It welcomes the intention of the
Commission to include proposals for increased flexibility for Member
States with respect to reduced rates of VAT, which would provide the
option to Member States of VAT zero rating for sanitary products.
III. CLIMATE AND ENERGY
16. The
European Council welcomes the submission by the Commission of the
package on energy security as well as of the Communication "Road from
Paris". It encourages the legislators to proceed with work on the
proposals to reinforce the EU energy security as a matter of priority on
the basis of its previous conclusions and the relevant strategies
endorsed by the European Council. It also recalled the importance of a
fully-functioning and interconnected energy market. Based on the Climate
Communication, it underlines the EU's commitment to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions domestically and to increase the share of renewable
energies and improve energy efficiency as agreed by the European Council
in October 2014. Adapting the legislation in order to implement this
framework remains a priority. The European Council invites the
Commission to rapidly present all the remaining relevant proposals to
this end so as to swiftly engage the legislative process. The European
Council looks forward to the signature of the Paris Agreement in New
York on 22 April and underlines the need for the European Union and its
Member States to be able to ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as
possible and on time so as to be Parties as of its entry into force.
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