COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL Commission contribution to the EU Leaders' thematic debate on a way forward on the external and the internal dimension of migration policy
Date: 2017-12-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financial instrument, EU migration policy, Frontex, migratory movement, political asylum, removal, resettlement of persons

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 12.12.2017 COM(2017) 820 final/2  CORRIGENDUM This document corrects document COM(2017)820 final of 07.12.2017. Concerns all languages versions. Formatting repaired to solve a printing issue in appendix 3. Text remains unchanged. The text shall read as follows: COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL Commission contribution to the EU Leaders' thematic debate on a way forward on the external and the internal dimension of migration policy  
 
 
We  will  make  the  European  Union  stronger  and  more  resilient,  through  even  greater  unity 
and solidarity amongst us and the respect of common rules (…) We pledge to work towards a 
safe and secure Europe: a Union where all citizens feel safe and can move freely, where our 
external borders are secured, with an efficient, responsible and sustainable migration policy, 
respecting international norms. 
(Rome Declaration, 27 March 2017) 

Migration  will  stay  on  our  radar.  Europe  is  not  a  fortress  and  must  never  become  one. 
Europe  is  and  must  remain  the  continent  of  solidarity,  where  those  fleeing  persecution  can 
find refuge. 
(Jean-Claude Juncker, State of the Union Address, 13 September 2017) 

On migration, we still have important and hard work ahead of us. We need to consolidate our 
external migration policy, improve our capacity for returns and reach durable solutions on a 
reformed asylum system. 
(Donald Tusk, 21 September 2017) 

The challenge of the refugee and migration crisis demanded a swift and determined response 
from the European Union and its Member States. The actions taken meant more than 620 000 
lives rescued in the Mediterranean Sea1, more humanitarian support2, stronger intervention to 
address  the  root  causes  of  migration  and  better  control  of  our  external  border.  They  also 
helped to reduce the number of irregular crossings: the numbers of arrivals to Greece dropped 
from some 177 000 in 2016 to around 35 000 in 2017 and in Italy, about 30% fewer people 
have  been  arriving  than  for  the  same  period  in  2016.  New  controlled,  legal  pathways  were 
opened for almost 26 000 people through the EU resettlement schemes. 

But from the outset, it has also been clear that the fundamental challenge is to put in place a 
more robust and secure system for the long term. 

Migration dynamics in an increasingly interconnected world are here to stay; demography in 
the  EU  and  its  neighbourhood  points  to  a  long  term  challenge.3  In  this  context,  migration 
policy needs to be effectively managed in line with the importance citizens attach to it. 

The thematic debate on the internal and external dimensions of migration to be held under the 
Leaders'  Agenda  at  the  December  European  Council  provides  an  opportunity  at  the  highest 
political level to give a strategic orientation on the key policy directions for the future. 

The lesson of the past few years is that unilateral measures have yielded little, have been more 
costly  to  apply  and  risked  undermining  the  benefits  of  Schengen.  In  September,  the 
Commission  took  stock  of  the  delivery  of  the  European  Agenda  on  Migration  since  2015.4 

1  Data referring  to  the  Italian and  Greek rescue operations  as well  as  the  European  Border and  Coast Guard’s 
Triton and Poseidon operations and Operation Sophia. The International Organisation for Migration's "Missing 
migrants" project (http://missingmigrants.iom.int/) reports 3 020 deaths in the Mediterranean in 2017 (until 27 
November), the lowest figures for the last two years (compared to 3 785 in 2015 and 5 143 in 2016) even if 
every life lost is one too many. 

2 For example, through the Emergency Support Instrument, an average of 32 500 refugees and migrants receive 
cash support on a monthly basis through the cash programme. In Turkey, the Emergency Social Safety Net  – 
one of the projects of the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey - now reaches 1.1 million recipients. 

3 While Europe's population is projected to be lower in 2050 than it is today, many countries in Africa and Asia 
continue  to  experience  significant  population  growth  (United  Nations,  Department  of  Economic  and  Social 
Affairs, Population Division (2017). World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision. ESA/P/WP/248).  
4 See Communication on the Delivery of the European Agenda on Migration, COM(2017) 558 of 27.9.2017. 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
This  showed  how,  in  spite  of  incremental  challenges,  a  common  approach  has  been  able  to 
stabilise  a  highly  volatile  situation  through  the  progressive  pooling  of  resources  and 
coordinated work towards a common objective. It highlighted the need for a comprehensive 
approach,  making  full  use  of  the  entire  range  of  tools  at  the  EU's  disposal,  combining  our 
legal framework, our policy levers and the EU budget to deliver results. It also underlined the 
shortcomings  in  managing  peaks  of  migratory  pressure  without  adequate  preparedness, 
information sharing arrangements, rapid response operational capabilities and flexible funding 
instruments at EU level. 

The time has come to find the solutions to move from an "ad hoc" approach based on crisis 
management, towards a stable future-proof asylum framework, part of a fully integrated EU 
migration policy. Looking ahead, a reformed Common European Asylum System that is fully 
fit for purpose is therefore indispensable. 

By  consolidating  its  existing  actions  and  agreeing  on  how  to  combine  solidarity  and  a  fair 
share  of  responsibility,  the  EU  will  be  able  to  show  that  a  strong  asylum  and  migration 
management framework is in place to inspire confidence and mutual trust for the future. 

1. 

THE  INTERNAL  AND  EXTERNAL  DIMENSION:  A  COMPREHENSIVE 
APPROACH  

In responding to the most severe migratory challenge since the Second World War, starting in 
2015 the European Union has taken action on several fronts. A new approach to dealing with 
migration has gradually emerged. This is based on combining a range of internal and external 
policy tools. Two years on, the lesson learned is that only a comprehensive approach works. 
Focusing just on the internal dimension and support to Member States is not sufficient. At the 
same  time,  an  external  migration  policy  alone  would  not  solve  the  migratory  challenge  for 
Europe. 

The  EU  has  taken  important  steps  to  support  the  Member  States  most  exposed  to  the 
exceptionally large inflow of refugees and migrants, in particular Greece and Italy. Through 
the  creation  of  hotspots,  national  administrations  and  services  have  worked  together  with 
experts  from  EU  agencies  and  ultimately  ensured  a  more  effective  management  of  the 
external  border.  Member  States  have  also  expressed  solidarity  through  the  relocation 
mechanism.  After  a  difficult  start-up  phase,  the  relocation  programme  has  allowed  32  366 
people from Greece and Italy to  be transferred to other EU Member States,  proving to  be a 
valuable instrument to help those in need of international protection and to alleviate pressure 
on the asylum systems of the two countries. Greece and Italy, as well as other Member States, 
have received targeted support also in the form of financial assistance. With the assistance of 
the  Emergency  Support  Instrument,  which  has  contracted  more  than  EUR  440  million  to 
support  the  refugee  response  in  Greece,  the  EU  has  introduced  a  new  tool  to  address 
humanitarian emergencies within its borders. 

With agreement reached in record time on the Commission's proposal,5 the operationalisation 
of the newly created European Border and Coast Guard has added a further powerful tool to 
strengthen the  control  of  the  external  border  and  provide  rapid  assistance  to  Member  States 

5  Proposed  by  the  European  Commission  on  15  December  2015,  the  Regulation  on  the  European  Border  and 
Coast Guard achieved political agreement by the European Parliament and the Council on 22 June 2016 and 
formal  adoption  on  14  September  2016,  just  nine  months  after  it  was  proposed.  It  entered  into  force  on  6 
October 2016; the rapid reaction and return pools became operational on 7 December 2016 and 7 January 2017. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
exposed  to  severe  migratory  pressure.  In  this  way,  the  Agency  complements  the  primary 
responsibility  of  the  Member  States  for  control  at  the  external  border,  with  their  100  000 
border and coast guard officers devoted to this task. The Agency is operated with and for the 
Member  States  –  the  speed  and  effectiveness  of  its  operations  depends  on  the  commitment 
and  steer  given  by  the  Management  Board  and  each  of  the  representatives  of  the  Member 
States in it. This commitment and steer are essential to realise the benefits in terms of mutual 
confidence between Member States and enhanced security. 

At the same time, the effectiveness of EU support to the Member States under most pressure 
has been reinforced by the parallel efforts to work with third country partners. While the EU 
support to Greece helped cope with the large numbers of refugees crossing into the country, 
the  joint  management  of  migration  through  the  EU-Turkey  Statement  has  resulted  in  the 
reduction of dangerous journeys across the Aegean and the significant decrease in migratory 
pressure.  The  EU  Facility  for  Refugees  in  Turkey  has  been  a  major  contributor  to  stability 
amongst  the  large  refugee  population  in  Turkey,  supporting  the  work  of  Turkey  to  supply 
basic living standards, education and health for refugees. Coastguards and migration services 
have  worked  increasingly  closely,  both  in  terms  of  operations  and  capacity-building.  Police 
and  law  enforcement  services  are  developing  new  approaches  in  a  joint  effort  to  fight 
smuggling networks responsible for transporting people. 

Equally,  Italy  received  support  to  deal  with  the  high  number  of  migrants  and  refugees 
reaching  its  shores,  in  line  with  the  Malta  Declaration  of  3  February  2017.6  Together  with 
Italy,  the  EU  has  taken  steps,  in  close  cooperation  with  the  Libyan  authorities  and  in 
partnership  with  the  United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Refugees,  the  International 
Organisation  for  Migration  and  other  UN  Agencies,  to  stabilise  irregular  flows  across  the 
Central  Mediterranean  and  improve  the  protection  and  assistance  to  refugees  and  migrants 
stranded  along  the  route.  EU-financed  projects  will  assist  and  protect  more  than  64 500 
persons in detention centres, at disembarkation points or in host communities in Libya. The 
EU  has  also  worked  further  downstream  with  other  African  countries  under  the  Partnership 
Framework approach agreed in June 2016. In the Horn of Africa, EU-financed projects now 
under  way  will  create  over  44  000  jobs  across  Ethiopia,  Kenya  and  Somalia,  and  directly 
finance  a  further  30  000  jobs  in  South  Sudan.  Projects  are  supporting  the  delivery  of  basic 
social  services  to  over  2.3  million  beneficiaries.  In  West  Africa  and  the  Sahel,  work  under 
way  targets  the  creation  of  114  000  jobs,  and  supports  almost  10  000  micro,  small  and 
medium enterprises. With EU support, Niger has stepped up the fight against smuggling along 
one of the main routes towards Libya. Countries such as Bangladesh have agreed with the EU  
a set of practical arrangements to improve the process of return of those citizens who do not 
have the right to remain in the EU. 

Across  the  board,  the  launch  of  the  first  EU-wide  resettlement  scheme  in  July  2015  has 
contributed  to  alleviating  pressure  for  irregular  migration  and  offered  legal  pathways  for 
people  in  need  of  international  protection.  Almost  26 000  people  have  been  resettled  under 
this scheme and the scheme established under the EU-Turkey Statement since their launch. A 
new,  more  ambitious  target  for  50  000  set  by  President  Juncker  in  September  this  year  is 
within reach. 

Return  policy  offers  another  prime  example  of  the  need  for  and  the  benefits  of  a 
comprehensive  approach.  Steps  have  been  taken  to  reinforce  the  EU  dimension  of  return 

6 Malta Declaration by the members of the European Council on the external aspects of migration: addressing the 

Central Mediterranean route. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
policy,  and  thus  contribute  to  the  efforts  required  for  national  return  systems  to  be  more 
coordinated  and  effective.  Establishing  a  closer  synergy  between  the  return  and  asylum 
procedures  could  play  a  key  role  in  further  increasing  the  effectiveness  of  return  policy  as 
well as to keep track of its impact, through constant monitoring and sharing up-to-date data 
with the EU. A better integration of the support capability of the European Border and Coast 
Guard Agency can also improve return effectiveness. At the same time, national systems have 
a greater incentive to become more performing if the momentum to agree on well-functioning 
readmission agreements or practical arrangements with key countries of origin and transit is 
maintained. 

2. 

ADVANCING ON ALL FRONTS 

The  different  pillars  of  the  comprehensive  EU  approach  are  not  just  inter-connected:  their 
success  relies  heavily  on  maintaining  the  momentum  of  action  on  all  fronts.  The  steps 
undertaken  to  address  migration  with  third  countries,  to  build  a  robust  EU  external  border 
protection or to apply solidarity and responsibility inside the EU are all work in progress. In 
all areas, there is work to do to consolidate the results achieved and fix gaps. 

The  EU  needs  to  keep  up  the  work  under  way  in  order  to  further  reduce  irregular  and 
dangerous  journeys.  In  some  cases  this  means  looking  to  continue  the  work  on  successful 
initiatives;  in  others  it  means  carrying  through  on  existing  plans,  such  as  the  full 
operationalisation  of  the  European  Border  and  Coast  Guard  and  completing  pledges  for 
resettlement.  It  also  means  maintaining  EU  support  to  the  Member  States  under  the  most 
pressure. 

The work that has been invested in putting in place operational mechanisms has allowed the 
EU to handle the crisis effectively and must be carried forward; otherwise, current progress 
will be put at risk. The lessons learnt should be used to shape the tools developed to ensure 
our future responsiveness, including structural solutions to our migration system. It is equally 
important for the Member States to be equipped with the necessary administrative capacity for 
an efficient implementation of the reformed legal, operational and financial framework. In all 
these efforts, the unity of the EU and its Member States is the best guarantee to deliver the 
integrated, holistic approach that we need in order to succeed. 

3. 

FROM  CRISIS  MANAGEMENT  TO  A  STABLE  FUTURE-PROOF  ASYLUM 
FRAMEWORK 

The integrated package for a sustainable asylum system 

In May and July 2016, the Commission proposed to reform the Common European Asylum 
System, putting forward a package of instruments to strengthen and to adapt the EU's asylum 
policy to the challenges of our time.  

Reform of the existing system is needed to ensure that we are able to swiftly grant protection 
to  those  in  need  and  return  those  who  are  not,  as  well  as  to  address  the  risk  of  secondary 
movements and abuses undermining confidence and the smooth functioning of the Schengen 
area. It also serves to achieve greater convergence in the EU asylum system so as to ensure 
more  equal  and  fair  treatment  of  applicants  across  the  EU.  In  a  common  European  Asylum 
System, the recognition rates for applicants with the same nationality should not vary between 
Member States as much as they do today. For instance, in the case of Afghani nationals, they 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
range from 0% to 98% between the Member States.7 It is also necessary to ensure rapid and 
efficient  procedures.  Today,  asylum  procedures  can  take  a  few  months  in  some  Member 
States  and  a  few  years  in  others.  By  tackling  these  issues,  the  Union  will  also  remove 
incentives for asylum shopping and reduce pull factors towards the EU. 

The  Commission  proposals  for  the  reform  of  the  Dublin  Regulation,  the  Qualifications  and 
Asylum  Procedures  Regulations  and  the  Reception  Conditions  Directive  pave  the  way  to  a 
system better prepared to deal with the possible arrival of a high number of people in need of 
international  protection  at  the  external  borders,  and  to  mechanisms  which  can  deliver 
solidarity through a shared responsibility in handling peaks of arrivals of asylum seekers. Just 
as  the  European  Border  and  Coast  Guard  has  made  it  easier  to  assist  Member  States  in 
ensuring  the  protection  given  to  the  external  borders,  the  Commission  also  proposed  to 
transform  the  European  Asylum  Support  Office  into  a  fully-fledged  European  Asylum 
Agency, to give Member States a new level of support in asylum management. 

In  addition,  the  Commission  also  proposed  a  Union  Resettlement  Framework  to  ensure 
orderly  and  safe  pathways  to  Europe  for  persons  in  need  of  international  protection  and  a 
reinforced Eurodac fingerprinting database to boost the fight against irregular migration. 

All these reform proposals are in the course of being examined by the European Parliament 
and  the  Council  and  have  been  identified  by  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the 
Commission  as  priorities  under  the  Joint  Declaration  of  2016.8  A  year  and  a  half  after  the 
proposals  were  made,  they  find  themselves  at  different  stages  of  advancement  within  the 
legislative  process.  Some  are  close  to  adoption,  such  as  the  European  Asylum  Agency 
proposal and the reform of Eurodac. Others, namely the Union Resettlement Framework, the 
Qualifications  Regulation  and  the  Reception  Conditions  Directive,  are  advancing.  On  the 
other  hand,  considerable  work  is  still  needed  on  the  proposal  for  an  Asylum  Procedures 
Regulation and the cornerstone proposal revising the Dublin Regulation. In this context, work 
on the EU safe third country concept should be also advanced, taking into account the June 
European Council Conclusions. 

The core elements of the reform package are an interlocking and united set of measures which 
aim for a meaningful harmonisation replying to the challenges faced. They need to be looked 
at  as  a  whole  and  should  be  adopted  as  a  package,  even  if  technical  work  can  progress  at 
different  speed.  However,  as  it  is  important  to  already  lay  down  the  key  operational 
foundations  contributing  to  a  swifter  roll-out  of  the  entire  reform,  the  European  Asylum 
Agency  and  Eurodac  proposals  could  usefully  be  adopted  without  needing  to  wait  for  the 
other main elements to be agreed. Any consequent changes linked to the rest of the package 
could be integrated subsequently. 

Solidarity and responsibility as core components of the integrated package 

A stable and future-proof asylum framework needs to be built on strong foundations and clear 
values:  a  more  effective  and  fairer  approach  based  on  solidarity  and  responsibility.  The 
centrality of these principles is reflected in the Treaties, which stipulate that the policies of the 
Union  set  out  in  the  Chapter  on  Policies  on  Border  Checks,  Asylum  and  Immigration  and 
their  implementation  shall  be  governed  by  the  principle  of  solidarity  and  fair  sharing  of 
responsibility,  including  its  financial  implications,  between  the  Member  States.  Whenever 

7 Source: EASO Annual Report 2016. The variations in recognition rates  may also be influenced by objective 

factors, but they are nevertheless significant. 

8 Joint Declaration of the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission on 

the EU’s legislative priorities for 2017, 13.12.2016. 

5 

 
 
                                                            
necessary,  the  Union  acts  adopted  pursuant  to  this  Chapter  shall  contain  appropriate 
measures to give effect to this principle.9 

The  EU's  response  so  far  has  drawn  on  these  fundamental  principles.  Operationally, 
financially  and  politically,  the  EU  has  worked  closer  together  on  supporting  the  Member 
States  under  most  pressure,  through  relocation  and  resettlement  and  through  operational 
support in border and asylum matters, including through the EU agencies. This work has been 
most effective when the engagement has been at its broadest, when all Member States have 
benefitted and all Member States have contributed. 

Agreement must be found on the appropriate way to balance these principles of responsibility 
and solidarity in the reform of the Common European Asylum System. In a common system 
and in a Schengen area without internal borders it is not possible to have the one without the 
other. While enhanced cooperation is always a last resort to break any deadlock, in this area it 
is  not  the  way  to  organise  a  solidarity  and  responsibility  mechanism,  in  which  all  Member 
States should participate. Failure to achieve this would continue to put the Schengen system 
under strain. 

Instead, the lessons learnt and best practices of the past few years should serve as a guide to 
the  way  forward  towards  agreement.  The  most  controversial  aspect  in  the  reform  of  the 
Dublin Regulation is the solidarity mechanism and its balance with responsibility. There are 
different  ways  to  design  it.  The  Commission  first  tabled  a  proposal  for  a  permanent 
framework  for  a  crisis  relocation  mechanism.  In  May  2016,  it  then  tabled  a  more 
comprehensive  and  predictable  approach,  integrating  a  fairness  mechanism  into  the  Dublin 
rules that would be triggered automatically under certain circumstances. On the basis of this 
proposal, the Slovak, Maltese and Estonian Presidencies of the Council have worked towards 
a phased approach. The European Parliament is proposing a compulsory system of relocation 
that  would  apply  generally  regardless  of  the  migratory  pressure.  Taking  into  account  these 
positions, a way forward could be to adopt an approach where the component of compulsory 
relocation  would  apply  to  situations  of  serious  crisis,  while  in  less  challenging  situations, 
relocation  would  be  based  on  voluntary  commitments  from  Member  States.  In  those 
situations,  the  solidarity  to  be  provided  would  take  different  forms,  drawn  from  both  the 
internal  and  external  dimensions  of  an  integrated  comprehensive  migration  policy.  In  this 
spirit, President Juncker recognised in the State of the Union Address 2017 that compromise 
will be needed to deliver this reform, and that the result should be the right one for our Union 
and fair to all its Member States. 

4. 

THE EXTERNAL DIMENSION  

The  EU  has  progressively  put  in  place  a  genuine  external  migration  policy,  complementing 
and  reinforcing  the  internal  dimension.  This  work  has  contributed  to  decreasing  dangerous 
journeys,  to  save  the  lives  of  migrants  and  brought  to  a  new  level  the  EU  support  to 
addressing the root causes of population movements and ensuring the protection of refugees 
and migrants. As migratory pressure on Europe will remain a challenge in the coming years, 
there is no alternative to consolidating and reinforcing the external dimension of migration. 

On  the  Eastern  Mediterranean  route,  it  is  necessary  to  ensure  the  continued  full 
implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement. The Member States already agreed in the EU-
Turkey Statement to mobilise an additional EUR 3 billion for the EU Facility for Refugees in 
Turkey,  shortly  after  the  currently  available  resources  have  been  contracted,  and  the  other 

9 Cf. Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 

6 

 
 
                                                            
conditions set out in the EU-Turkey Statement are met. This should follow the model of the 
distribution of efforts between the EU budget and national budgets agreed in 2016.10 The pace 
of  resettlements  from  Turkey  should  be  maintained.  Operationalising  the  voluntary 
humanitarian admission scheme will further contribute to ensuring legal pathways for Syrian 
refugees in Turkey. Close attention should be paid to the Western Balkans, through continued 
EU support to countries along the route and vigilance against secondary movements. 

It is also necessary to strengthen work along the Central Mediterranean route, delivering on 
all aspects of the strategy set out in the Malta Declaration and the Action Plan on the Central 
Mediterranean.  The  EU  and  Member  States,  in  cooperation  with  the  Libyan  authorities,  the 
African  Union,  the  International  Organisation  for  Migration,  the  United  Nations  High 
Commissioner for Refugees and other UN agencies, will urgently step up actions to ensure the 
protection of migrants and refugees in the country in full respect of their human rights, and 
put an end to violence and abuses by criminal networks. To this end, the EU has set up a Task 
Force with the African Union and the United Nations to save and protect lives of migrants and 
refugees  along  the  routes  and  in  particular  in  Libya,  as  announced  in  Abidjan  on  29 
November  2017.  This  will  allow  the  programme  of  the  International  Organisation  for 
Migration for assisted voluntary returns from Libya to countries of origin to be accelerated, 
funding an additional 15 000 returns by February 2018. Following the set-up of a “transit and 
departure  facility”  in  Tripoli  for  people  in  need  of  international  protection,  the  EU  and 
Member  States  should  support  resettlements  from  Libya  through  the  United  Nations  High 
Commissioner for Refugees' emergency transit mechanism, with at least 1 000 resettlements 
by  February  2018.  Breaking  the  business  model  of  smugglers  remains  a  priority.  In  this 
context,  the  EU  should  support  new  projects  for  job  creation  and  socio-economic 
development in local municipalities, in particular in Libya and Niger. 

The  changing  patterns  of  migratory  flows  require  continuous  vigilance:  for  example,  the 
Western Mediterranean/Atlantic route saw the total number of arrivals to Spain rising to over 
25 500 in 2017, around 105% higher than that in the same period in 2016. Cooperation with 
Morocco and the other relevant countries along this route will be crucial. 

Delivering on all these objectives cannot happen without additional funding support. In this 
light,  the  replenishment  of  the  North  Africa  Window  of  the  EU  Trust  Fund  is  essential. 
Whereas  some  Member  States  have  come  forward  since  the  last  European  Council  with 
additional  pledges, it is necessary that all Member States contribute their fair  share to  close 
the funding gap of EUR 340 million, of which EUR 110 million is for immediate needs. 

Beyond North  Africa,  the EU Trust Fund supports  projects, including  for food security, job 
creation for youth or better migration management, in 21 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and 
East Africa, through the Sahel and Lake Chad Window and the Horn of Africa Window. EUR 
1.2  billion  have  already  been  contracted  for  178  contracts  including  cross-window  projects. 
The  resources  available  are  reaching  their  limits.  It  is  necessary  to  ensure  their  optimal 
targeting and efficient use in the remaining years of operation of the Fund while looking into 
further commitments from Member States in particular in light of the need to implement the 
results achieved at the African Union-European Union Summit of 29 and 30 November 2017. 

10   Agreement reached on 3 February 2016 among the 28 Member States and the Commission: EUR 1 billion to 
be financed from the EU budget, EUR 2 billion by contributions from the Member States according to their 
share in EU Gross National Income. 

7 

 
 
                                                            
The EU and its Member States should maximise the use of leverages, such as visa and other 
policies,  to  conclude  readmission  agreements  or  practical  arrangements  with  countries  of 
origin and transit. 

Looking  forward,  a  strong  focus  should  be  maintained  on  addressing  the  root  causes  of 
migration,  through  development  cooperation,  including  support  for  digital  components, 
targeted  actions  under  the  EU  Trust  Fund  and  multiplying  private  investment  through  the 
External  Investment  Plan,  as  well  as  to  develop  legal  migration  packages  that  can  underpin 
our partnerships. 

The  African  Union-EU  Summit  has  confirmed  the  potential  for  a  stronger  and  a  broader 
partnership  to  emerge  among  our  two  continents,  centred  on  youth  and  development.  As 
migration is a global challenge the EU and Africa will be also actively shaping the future UN 
Global Compacts on Migration. 

5. 

FUNDING FOR MIGRATION: ADEQUATE RESOURCES, FLEXIBLE 
INSTRUMENTS  

Managing migration requires a major investment. At the time when the current generation of 
EU funding instruments were developed in 2011, migration had a much lower level of priority 
than it has today. Since the onset of the crisis, the available funding initially programmed for 
migration was increased by 74.6% (EUR 6 billion) until 2020 to support interventions in all 
Member States. EU budget support has proved necessary to help Member States under most 
pressure to address new needs for border control, run hotspots, and to provide the necessary 
humanitarian support to refugees and migrants, including shelter and health care. Experts and 
assets made available through the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Europol and the 
European  Asylum  Support  Office  have  reinforced  the  capacity  of  action  of  Member  States. 
EU  funding  for  resettlement  by  Member  States  of  people  in  need  of  protection  has  opened 
more legal avenues for migrants to reach Europe safely. These needs will remain in the future. 

Well-designed, flexible and streamlined instruments to  address migration challenges will be 
necessary in the coming years. In the past, rigid rules on programming of resources have been 
an obstacle to respond rapidly to Member States' requests, or led to a systematic  recourse to 
(limited) emergency funding. There are also areas where EU funding instruments could play a 
stronger  role  in  the  future,  for  example  in  supporting  local  communities  receiving  a  large 
number of migrants or refugees, thus facilitating integration and addressing social and health 
issues. 

Funding is key to underpin the EU's external migration policy. In this area, ad hoc instruments 
have  been  required  to  respond  to  new  priorities,  such  as  the  EU  Facility  for  Refugees  in 
Turkey,  the  EU  Emergency  Trust  Fund  for  Africa  or  the  European  Fund  for  Sustainable 
Development.  While  these  instruments  were  created  also  with  the  purpose  of  ensuring 
blending  of  resources  from  both  the  EU  budget  and  Member  States,  securing  matching 
national funds has proven difficult. Moving forward, a reflection should be made on how to 
also  guarantee  funding  for  the  external  dimension  of  migration,  ensuring  flexibility,  rapid 
mobilisation and coordinated use of internal and external resources. 

The next multiannual financial framework will need to draw the lessons from this experience 
and also to look ahead at the migratory challenges for the future.  

8 

 
 
 
 
Roadmap to a deal by June 2018 on the comprehensive migration package 
Progress  has  been  achieved  by  the  European  Parliament,  Council  and  the  Commission  on  the  internal  and 
external dimensions of migration policy. But the migratory challenge and pressure remains very high. In view of 
our joint commitment to go back to Schengen by summer 2018 and to move to a system ensuring resilience to 
future crises, the Commission invites the Leaders to agree on the following elements of a roadmap, which would 
allow Leaders to agree on a comprehensive package by June 2018. 

 

Intensify work on the reform of the Common European Asylum System so that: 
 
  political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Qualification Regulation 

the EU-Asylum Agency and the Eurodac proposals are adopted by March 2018; 

is reached by end of March 2018; 

  political  agreement  between  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the  Reception  Conditions 

Directive and the Union Resettlement Framework is reached by May 2018; 

  a negotiating mandate on the  Asylum Procedures Regulation is reached in the European Parliament 

and the Council by May 2018; 

  agreement  on  the  right  balance  between  responsibility  and  solidarity  should  be  achieved  in  the 

following steps: 

the broad outlines for an agreement are identified by April 2018; 

 
  agreement is reached on the right balance between responsibility and solidarity at the meeting 
of the EU Leaders in Sofia in May 2018 which is swiftly translated into a negotiating mandate 
for the Council on the Dublin Regulation; 

  political  agreement  is  reached  in  the  June  European  Council  on  the  overall  reform  of  the 

Common European Asylum System. 

  Complete  the  build-up  of  an  effective  external  border  management  system,  notably  by  ensuring  that 
Member States contribute all the assets and staff needed for the rapid reaction pools of the European Border 
and Coast Guard so that they stand fully ready for deployment by March 2018; 

  Put in place a fully functioning  return capacity in the European Border and Coast Guard Agency by 
March 2018 so that the number of returned migrants in operations organised in cooperation with the Agency 
would increase by at least 20% compared to the same period of 2017 and increase by 50% by June 2018. 
Building  on  the  positive  examples  of  operational  arrangements  on  readmission  recently  established  with 
third countries, such as with Bangladesh, such forms of arrangements or readmission agreements with three 
further partner countries should be established by May 2018; 

  Ensure that sufficient legal pathways into Europe are open. This requires Member States to pledge for the 
resettlement of at least 50 000 people in need of protection by February 2018, with 50% implemented by 
October 2018 and the remainder by May 2019 including through the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees Emergency Transit Mechanism from Libya.  Launch the first pilot projects for coordinating legal 
economic migration offers for key partners countries by May 2018;  

  Reach  a  political  agreement  between  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the  "Blue  Card" 
Directive  on  entry  and  residence  conditions  for  highly  qualified  workers  coming  from  third  countries  by 
June 2018; 

  Deliver  the  different  workstreams  of  the  external  migration  policy.  Ensure  full  and  sustained 
implementation  of  the  EU-Turkey  Statement.  Support,  in  partnership  with  the  Libyan  authorities,  the 
African Union and the International Organisation for Migration, a further 15 000 assisted voluntary returns 
from  Libya  to  countries  of  origin  and,  through  the  United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  Refugees 
Emergency  Transit  Mechanism,  at  least  1  000  resettlements  from  Libya  by  February  2018.  All  Member 
States should contribute to close the funding gap of EUR 340 million for the North Africa Window of the 
EU Trust Fund by March 2018; 

 

In the light of the conclusions of the EU-African Union Summit, support the work of the EU-African Union-
United  Nations  Task  Force  and  reinforce  the  strategic  partnership  with  Africa,  including  by  rapidly 
implementing all the components of the EU External Investment Plan. The first wave of projects under the 
European Sustainable Development Fund should be adopted by May 2018. 

In  order  to  ensure  measurable  progress  on  all  different  elements  of  this  roadmap,  each  Member  State  should 
appoint a dedicated migration Sherpa. 

9 

 
 
 
 
Appendix 1 - European Agenda on Migration: State of Play of main proposals  

23 main legislative 
initiatives have been 
presented by the 
European Commission 
since the Juncker 
Commission took office. 

23 

9 

14 

Of these 23 initiatives, 9 have been adopted by the 
European Parliament and the Council of the European 
Union. 

There are still 14 Commission legislative 
initiatives on the table which the European 
Parliament and the Council need to adopt. 

PROGRESS TO DATE ON THE MAIN LEGISLATIVE FILES, 
ACCORDING TO THEIR STATUS 

European 
Commission 

European 
Parliament 

Council of the Eu- 
ropean Union 

Adopted by 
European 
Parliament and 
Council 

Proposal 

Description 

Status 

International protection: 
provisional measures for 
the benefit of Italy and 
Greece 

Uniform format for visas 

International protection: 
provisional measures for 
the benefit of Italy, Greece 
and Hungary 

This Decision establishes a temporary and exceptional 
relocation mechanism over two years from Italy and 
Greece to other Member States. 

May 2015 

This Regulation establishes a new common design for 
the visa sticker, which modernises the safety features to 
prevent forgery. 

June 2015 

This Decision establishes provisional measures in the 
area of international protection for the benefit of Italy 
and of Greece, in view of supporting them in better 
coping with an emergency situation characterised by a 
sudden inflow of nationals of third countries in those 
Member States. 

September 
2015 

European travel document 
for return 

This Regulation establishes a uniform European travel 
document for the return of illegally staying third-country 
nationals. 

December 
2015 

European Commission 

European Parliament 

Council of the European Union 

Proposal presented 

Negotiating mandate agreed or act adopted 

Negotiating mandate agreed or act adopted 

Proposal to be presented 

Negotiating mandate to be agreed 

Negotiating mandate to be agreed 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PROGRESS TO DATE ON THE MAIN LEGISLATIVE FILES, 
ACCORDING TO THEIR STATUS 

European 
Commission 

European 
Parliament 

Council of the Eu- 
ropean Union 

Adopted by 
European 
Parliament and 
Council 

Proposal 

Description 

Status 

Reinforcement of checks 
against relevant databases 
at external borders 

This Regulation introduces mandatory systematic checks 
also on EU citizens, against relevant databases when 
crossing the EU's external borders. 

December 
2015 

European Border and Coast 
Guard Agency 

Entry/exit system (smart 
borders) 

This Regulation establishes a European Border and Coast 
Guard Agency in order to ensure the effective applica- 
tion of strong common border management standards 
and provide operational support and intervention where 
necessary to promptly respond to emerging crises at the 
external border. 

The Entry/Exit System will register the entry and exit of 
non-EU nationals and help monitor authorised short stays 
in the EU. It will modernise external border management 
by improving the quality and efficiency of controls as well 
as the detection of document and identity fraud. 

December 
2015 

April 2016 

Asylum: Dublin System 

This proposal aims to create a fairer, more efficient and 
more sustainable system for allocating asylum applica- 
tions among Member States. 

May 2016 

November 
2017 

Asylum Agency 

This proposal will establish a fully-fledged European 
Union Agency for Asylum with an enhanced mandate 
and considerably expanded tasks, including the ability to 
deploy asylum support teams and provide operational 
and technical assistance. 

May 2016 

December 
2017 

December 
2017 

Asylum: Eurodac 

This proposal aims at adapting and reinforcing the Euro- 
dac system to facilitate returns and help tackle irregular 
migration. 

May 2016 

June 
2017 

June 
2017 

Entry and residence of 
third-country nationals for 
the purposes of highly skil- 
led employment ('Blue Card') 

This proposal on legal migration, also known as the ‘Blue 
Card’ scheme, was put forward by the Commission in 
mid-2016. 

June 2016 

July 
2017 

July 
2017 

Uniform format for resi- 
dence permits 

This Regulation introduces more modern security features 
to improve the security features of residence permits. 

June 2016 

Reception Conditions 

This proposal will harmonise reception conditions throu- 
ghout the EU. 

July 2016 

May 
2017 

July 
2017 

November 
2017 

July 
2017 

July 2016 

July 2016 

July 2016 

October 
2017 

November 
2017 

Asylum Qualification 

Asylum procedure 

Union resettlement fra- 
mework 

This proposal will harmonise protection standards in the 
EU and put an end to secondary movements and asylum 
shopping 

This proposal will reduce differences in recognition rates, 
discourage secondary movements and ensure common 
effective procedural guarantees for asylum seekers. 

This proposal — about how the EU resettles recognised 
refugees from outside its territory, such as those in 
refugee camps — was put forward by the Commission in 
July last year. 

European Commission 

European Parliament 

Council of the European Union 

Proposal presented 

Negotiating mandate agreed or act adopted 

Negotiating mandate agreed or act adopted 

Proposal to be presented 

Negotiating mandate to be agreed 

Negotiating mandate to be agreed 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proposal 

Description 

Status 

European 
Commission 

European 
Parliament 

Council of the Eu- 
ropean Union 

Adopted by 
European 
Parliament and 
Council 

External  investment  plan/ 
European Fund for Sustai- 
nable Development 

European Travel Information 
and Authorisation System 

Establishment,  operation 
and  use  of  the  Schengen 
Information System for: 

• police cooperation and 
judicial cooperation in 
criminal matters 

• border checks 

• the return of illegally 
staying third country 
nationals 

Agency for the operational 
management of large-scale 
IT systems in the area of 
freedom, security and jus- 
tice (eu-LISA) 

The co-legislators were able to come to a swift political 
agreement in June for this proposal, less than a year 
after the Commission presented it in September 2016. 
Its aim is to use EU funds to leverage private investment 
into the realm of development in Africa and other parts 
of the EU’s neighbourhood. 

This proposal will create an automated system for pre- 
travel security and irregular migration screening of visa- 
exempt non-EU nationals. This will ensure that Member 
States have better information about non-EU travellers 
coming to Europe. 

The Commission put forward proposals to revise the 
Schengen Information System in December 2016, 
notably with the aim of improving border and migration 
management. 

This proposal reviews the Regulation establishing the 
eu-LISA Agency and strengthens its mandate to make 
sure it meets current challenges at EU level in the area 
of freedom, security and justice. In particular, the Agency 
will now be responsible for the development and roll-out 
of the technical solutions to achieve the interoperability 
of the EU information systems. 

September 
2016 

November 
2016 

October 
2017 

June 
2017 

November 
2017 

November 
2017 

December 
2016 

December 
2016 

December 
2016 

June 2017 

Revision of the rules for 
temporary reintroduction of 
border control at internal 
borders 

This proposal - which aims at making the rules on the 
temporary reintroduction of border controls better suited 
to current and future challenges - was presented by the 
Commission in September 2017. 

September 
2017 

European Commission 

European Parliament 

Council of the European Union 

Proposal presented 

Negotiating mandate agreed or act adopted 

Negotiating mandate agreed or act adopted 

Proposal to be presented 

Negotiating mandate to be agreed 

Negotiating mandate to be agreed 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appendix 2 - The EU Trust Fund for Africa 

Pledges and contributions to the EU Trust Fund for Africa 
Resources currently allocated to the EU Trust Fund for Africa amount to EUR 3.3 billion: over EUR 
2.9 billion from the European Development Fund (EDF) and EU financial instruments and EUR 375 
million  from  EU  Member  States  and  other  donors  (Switzerland  and  Norway),  of  which  EUR  315.1 
million  have  been  paid  so  far.  Member  States  should  contribute  more  to  live  up  to  their 
commitments dating back to November 2015. 

Pledges and Contributions to the EU Trust Fund for Africa  

 (In EUR million, as of 4 December 2017) 

Member State/Associated State 

Pledged 

Received  

Austria 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Cyprus 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Hungary 
Ireland 
Italy 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovakia 
Slovenia 
Spain 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 
Norway 
Switzerland 
Total contribution  
Contribution from EU budget[1] 

6 
10 
0.55 
0.2 
 
1.67 
10 
1.45 
5 
9 
154 
 
0.7 
6 
102 
0.3 
0.2 
3.1 
0.25 
26.36 
8.13 
0.45 
0.1 
1.6 
0.05 
9 
3 
3 
8.78 
4.1 
375 

6 
6 
0.05 
0.2 
 
1.67 
6 
1.45 
5 
3 
136 
 
0.7 
1.2 
102 
0.3 
0.05 
3.1 
0.1 
13.36 
8.13 
0.45 
0.1 
0.6 
0.05 
3 
3 
1.2 
8.78 
3.6 
315.1 

2,928.4 

[1] Including other EU financial instruments such as the European Development Fund.  

13 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
As of 4 December 2017,  120 programmes  across the three  regions have been approved  by the 
Operational Committee of the EU Trust Fund for Africa for a total amount of around EUR 1 960.4 
million. A total of 194 contracts with implementers (86 in the Sahel/Lake Chad, 69 in the Horn of 
Africa, 16 in the North of Africa region and 23 related to cross-window projects) have been signed 
so far for a total of amount of EUR 1 352.2 million. Total disbursements amount to EUR 490.6 
million. 

Window 
Horn of Africa 
North of Africa 
Sahel & Lake Chad 
Cross-Window 
Projects 
Grand Total 
*Rounded figures 

Approved Amount 

Contracted Amount 

Paid Amount 

665.0 
    293.6* 
                988.8* 

13* 

1960.4* 

430.3 
   132.3 
787.0 

2.6 

1352.2 

146.6 
60.4 
282.9 

0.7 

490.6 

The North Africa window of the EU-Africa Trust Fund 
The  North  Africa  window  of  the  EU-Africa  Trust  Fund  is  particularly  lacking  in  funds,  despite  this 
being  one  of  the  most  important  for  reducing  flows  along  the  Central  Mediterranean  Route.  The 
North Africa Window of the Trust Fund has to date approved programmes worth EUR 294 million of 
which EUR 132 million has been contracted. More funding is needed to close the identified gap of 
EUR 340 million of which EUR 110 million for immediate needs. 

Following  the  Commission's  call  in  July  for  more  contributions  to  the  North  of  Africa  window,  the 
October European Council called on Member States to ensure sufficient and targeted funding. As of 
4 December, more than EUR 140 million of contributions have been pledged to this window:  

DATE OF SIGNATURE 
OF OFFICIAL PLEDGE 
OR CONTRIBUTION 
CERTIFICATE 

AMOUNT 

13/10/2017 
29/11/2017 
27/10/2017 
05/10/2017 
28/11/2017 
06/07/2017 
10/11/2017 
29/11/2017 
20/07/2017 
26/10/2017 
01/12/2017 
22/11/2017 
16/11/2017 
08/11/2017 
24/11/2017 

3,000,000 
100,000 
100,000 
989,008 
4,031,100 
1,000,000 
3,000,000 
100,000,000 
10,000,000 
250,000 
150,000 
10,000,000 
2,074,258 
7,080,746 
1,000,000 
142,775,112 

COUNTRY 

Austria 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Czech Republic 
Denmark 
Estonia 

Germany 

Italy 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Netherlands 
Norway 
Poland 
Slovakia 
TOTAL 

NB: France and Spain each pledged an additional contribution of EUR 6 million, and Ireland EUR 3 million to 
the EU Trust Fund for Africa without indicating an allocation by window.  

14 

 
 
  
 
Appendix 3 - The European Border and Coast Guard  

The  European  Border  and  Coast  Guard  Agency,  agreed  in  a  record  time  upon  the  Commission's 
proposal,  was  established  in  October  2016  to  ensure  that  Europe  can  better  protect  its  common 
external borders and is equipped to face any new migration and security challenges. 

CURRENT  EUROPEAN  BORDER AND 
COAST  GUARD  DEPLOYMENTS: 

742 officers in 
Greece 

137 officers in 
Bulgaria 

322 officers in Italy 

91 officers in the 
Western  Balkans 

79 officers in Spain 

OVER  1,400  OFFICERS  ACROSS  THE  EU 

Important gaps hamper the agency’s roll-out 
Over  the  past  year,  important  steps  have  been  taken  to  operationalise  the  new  Agency,  including 
the setting up of Rapid Reaction Pools for border guards and equipment. Despite repeated calls for 
Member  States  to  deliver  on  their  commitments,  significant  gaps  still  persist  in  those  pools, 
especially when it  comes to  technical equipment.  The ongoing  joint operations,  such  as  in Greece, 
Italy  and  Bulgaria,  face  similar  challenges  with  a  chronic  shortage  of  deployed  officers  from 
Member States.    

ESTIMATED DEPLOYMENT GAPS IN JANUARY 2018 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RAPID REACTION POOL 

There is currently a shortfall of almost 206 nominations for border guards for the Rapid Reaction 
Pool of 1,500 officers 

 MEMBER STATES 

REQUIRED 
CONTRIBUTION 

 STILL MISSING 

 MEMBER STATES 

REQUIRED 
CONTRIBUTION 

 STILL MISSING 

AUSTRIA 

BELGIUM 

BULGARIA 

CROATIA 

CYPRUS 

CZECK REPUBLIC 

DENMARK 

ESTONIA 

FINLAND 

FRANCE 

GERMANY 

GREECE 

HUNGARY 

ICELAND* 

ITALY 

34 

30 

40 

65 

8 

20 

29 

18 

30 

170 

225 

50 

65 

2 

125 

  LATVIA 

  LITHUANIA 

  LUXEMBOURG 

  MALTA 

 8 

  NETHERLANDS 

  NORWAY 

  POLAND 

  PORTUGAL 

  ROMANIA 

  SLOVAKIA 

  SLOVENIA 

  SPAIN 

  SWEDEN 

 2 

  SWITZERLAND 

30 

39 

8 

6 

50 

20 

100 

47 

75 

35 

35 

111 

17 

16 

1 

 8 

 42 

 31 

 3 

 111 

  TOTAL: 

1,500 

206 

RAPID REACTION EQUIPMENT POOL 

Only 14 Member States are currently contributing technical equipment to the Rapid 
Reaction Equipment Pool, leaving considerable gaps. 

TYPE OF EQUIPMENT 

STILL MISSING 
(ASSETS - MONTH) 

14 MEMBER STATES 
CONTRIBUTING: 

53 

33 

78 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appendix 4 - Relocation and Resettlement  

Relocation 

Two years on, the EU relocation scheme has proven to be a success, helping refugees start a new 
life and ensuring that responsibility is being better shared amongst Member States. 

RELOCATED FROM ITALY 

RELOCATED FROM GREECE 

TOTAL: 

10,842  

21,524 

IT 

EL 

Total 

RELOCATIONS FROM ITALY AND GREECE 
(OCTOBER 2015 - NOVEMBER 2017) 

3000 

2500 

2000 

1500 

1000 

500 

0 

r
e
b
o
t
c
O

r
e
b
m
e
v
o
N

r
e
b
m
e
c
e
D

y
r
a
u
n
a
J

y
r
a
u
r
b
e
F

h
c
r
a
M

l
i
r
p
A

y
a
M

e
n
u
J

y
l
u
J

t
s
u
g
u
A

r
e
b
m
e
t
p
e
S

r
e
b
o
t
c
O

r
e
b
m
e
v
o
N

r
e
b
m
e
c
e
D

y
r
a
u
n
a
J

y
r
a
u
r
b
e
F

h
c
r
a
M

l
i
r
p
A

y
a
M

e
n
u
J

y
l
u
J

t
s
u
g
u
A

r
e
b
m
e
t
p
e
S

r
e
b
o
t
c
O

r
e
b
m
e
v
o
N

With  around  500  people  eligible  for  relocation  remaining  in  Greece  and  2 350  in  Italy,  Member 
States  should  transfer  the  remaining  candidates  as  a  matter  of  urgency.  The  Commission  stands 
ready to continue providing financial support to those Member States which sustain their relocation 
efforts. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Resettlement  

Since 2015, two successful EU resettlement schemes have helped almost 26 000  of the most vulnerable refugees find 
shelter  in  an  EU  Member  State,  of  which  18 563  under  the  Council  Conclusions  of  20  July  2015.  With  these  schemes 
coming  to  an  end,  the  Commission  launched  a  new  resettlement  scheme  in  September  for  at  least 50 000  particularly 
vulnerable persons in need of international protection to be admitted by EU Member States by October 2019. EUR 500 
million has been set aside for Member States’ resettlement efforts in the next two years – EUR 10 000 for each resettled 
person from the EU budget.  

RESETTLEMENT UNDER THE 
CURRENT EU PROGRAMME 

18,563 
persons 
resettled 

Total of 22,500 pledged 

The Commission proposed a permanent EU Resettlement Framework in July 2016 to coordinate European efforts in the 
long term and set up a unified procedure and common criteria. Once adopted, the EU resettlement framework will replace 
the current ad hoc resettlement and humanitarian admission schemes.  

PLEDGES RECEIVED UNDER THE NEW 
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME 

39,758 
pledges 
so far 

Total of 50,000 planned 

Member State 

Pledges made so far 

  Member State 

Pledges made so far 

Pledges made so far 

Austria 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Croatia 

Cyprus 

Czech Republic 

Denmark 

Estonia 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 

Hungary 

Ireland 

Italy 

0 

2,000 

110 

200 

69 

0 

0 

80 

1,670 

10,200 

0 

0 

0 

1,200 

1,000 

  Latvia 

  Lithuania 

  Luxembourg 

  Malta 

  Netherlands 

  Poland 

  Portugal 

  Romania 

  Slovakia 

  Slovenia 

  Spain 

  Sweden 

  United Kingdom 

  TOTAL 

18 

0 

50 

200 

20 

3000 

0 

1010 

109 

0 

40 

2,250 

8,750 

7,800 

39,758 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appendix 5 – Roadmap to a deal by June 2018 on the comprehensive migration package 

ROADMAP TO A DEAL BY JUNE 2018 ON THE COMPREHENSIVE MIGRATION PACKAGE 

In 2018 

BY  FEBRUARY 

✓  Member States to pledge at least 50,000 places for the resettlement of people in need of protection, 

including through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Emergency Transit Mechanism from 
Libya; 

✓  Support at least 15,000 assisted voluntary returns through the International Organisation for Migration and 
1,000 resettlements from Libya through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Emergency 
Transit Mechanism. 

BY MARCH 

✓  Adopt the EU-Asylum Agency and the Eurodac proposals; 
✓  Reach political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Qualification Regulation; 
✓  Member States to contribute all the assets and staff needed for the rapid reaction pools of the European 

Border and Coast Guard so that they stand fully ready for deployment; 

✓  All Member States to contribute to close the funding gap of €340 million for the North of Africa Window 

of the EU Trust Fund; 

✓  The European Border and Coast Guard Agency puts in place a fully functioning return capacity. 

BY APRIL 

✓  Identify the broad outlines for an agreement on the right balance between responsibility and solidarity. 

BY MAY 

✓  Reach political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Reception Conditions 

Directive and the Union Resettlement Framework; 

✓  Obtain a negotiating mandate on the Asylum Procedures Regulation in the European Parliament and the 

Council; 

✓  Reach an agreement on the right balance between responsibility and solidarity at the meeting of the EU 

Leaders in Sofia and swiftly translate it into a negotiating mandate for the Council on the Dublin Regulation; 

✓  Adopt first wave of projects under the European Sustainable Development Fund; 
✓  Launch the first pilot projects for coordinating legal economic migration offers for key partners countries; 
✓  Increase the number of returned migrants in operations organised in cooperation with the European Border 

and Coast Guard Agency by at least 20% compared to the same period of 2017; 

✓  Agree on readmission agreements or operational arrangements with three further partner countries. 

BY JUNE 

✓  Reach political agreement in the June European Council on the overall reform of the Common European 

Asylum System; 

✓  Reach political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the "Blue Card" Directive; 
✓  Further increase the number of returned migrants in operations organised in cooperation with the European 

Border and Coast Guard Agency by 50% compared to the same period of 2017. 

✓  Implement 50% of the resettlement pledges for at least 50,000 people in need of protection. 

BY OCTOBER 

In 2019 

BY MAY 

✓  Implement the remaining 50% of the resettlement pledges for at least 50,000 people in need of protection. 

Source: European Commission 

19